2019 Part B MAC Update

The April 2021 quarterly update includes revisions to the Part B SNF CB files for 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2017.

The revisions to the Part B SNF CB files for 2019 included in this update (effective with the April 5, 2021 implementation of CR 12212) are as follows:

Revisions to 2019 Files

File 4

Deletion of the following HCPCS codes effective January 1, 2020:

• 0019T
• 64550
   

The SNF consolidated billing files reflect new codes that have been developed for 2019 and codes that have been discontinued for 2019. In addition, the files reflect any additions and deletions to categories of services excluded from consolidated billing. These files are effective for claims with dates of service on or after 1/01/2019 unless otherwise noted.

File 1 - Part A Stay - Physician Services (see file below)

Services represented by these codes are not subject to skilled nursing facility (SNF) consolidated billing for Medicare beneficiaries in a SNF Part A covered stay. They should be submitted to the Part B MAC or Durable Medical Equipment MAC, as appropriate, for payment consideration.

Some codes when billed globally, or as a separate technical component or professional component billed with a TC or 26 modifier, are excluded from consolidated billing and may be paid separately by the Part B MAC. These codes therefore appear on both File 1 and File 2.

Note: The Heallthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code, J9301 was not included in the 2016 annual update to the SNF files. A correction to the coding lists will be implemented in annual 2019 SNF file updates and will be added to File 1 October 2016. The affected HCPCS code for practitioner billing is J9301, will be added to File 1. If you have claims with dates of service from January 1 through December 31, 2016, that have been erroneously denied, you should contact your Medicare Administrative Contractor to have the claims re-opened and re-processed.

The HCPCS code J9176 was erroneously removed from the 2018 file. The affected HCPCS code for practitioner billing will be back dated to January 1, 2018 and added to File 1 with the 2019 SNF file updates. If you have claims with dates of service from January 1 through December 31, 2018, that have been erroneously denied, you should contact your Medicare Administrative Contractor to have the claims re-opened and re-processed.

File 2 - Part A Stay - Professional Components of Services to be Submitted with a 26 Modifier (see file below)

Note: The professional component of the services represented by these codes are not subject to skilled nursing facility (SNF) consolidated billing and will be considered for payment by the Part B MAC for Medicare beneficiaries in a SNF Part A stay. These codes must be submitted with a modifier of 26 to indicate "professional component".

File 3 - Part A Stay - Ambulance (see file below)

Note: These are ambulance codes that will always be denied by the Part B MAC for Medicare beneficiaries in a skilled nursing facility Part A covered stay when submitted with an NN modifier. Effective 10/4/04, per Transmittal 163, these ambulance codes will also be denied when submitted with modifiers ND or DN.

File 4 - Part B Stay Only - Therapy Services (see file below)

Note: Services represented by these codes are the only services subject to skilled nursing facility (SNF) consolidated billing for Medicare beneficiaries in a SNF Part B stay. The file includes codes for physical, occupational and speech therapy. The Part B MAC will always deny these codes for Medicare beneficiaries in a SNF Part B stay. Therapy services must be provided and billed under arrangement with the SNF.