New Medicare Rules for Stock & Bills
Charles Barocas
Description
Collection
Title:
New Medicare Rules for Stock & Bills
Creator:
Charles Barocas
Date:
9/13/2010
Text:
I want to thank the message board for all the feedback I received about the new rules. I asked a question and boy did I get answers!
The 21 page CMS PDF of the new rules can be downloaded at www.asop.org. I was hoping that ABC or AOPA would have had it up by now as well.
This effects all Medicare billing done by an orthopedic supplier within the Doc's office in a so called stock & bill situation. So while the DJO's and other S&B's cannot bill Medicare any longer for braces supplied within the Docs office. They did not lose their Medicare provider number. They only lost the ability to bill Medicare in this situation. If they want, DJO can even set up their own shop across the street from the orthopedic office just like anyone else. I doubt they will, but they can.
I also think we might see some changes to this final rule. There are many interpretations & opinions with any legislation. I am sure some of this final rule will even end up in court. It almost makes me happy I get 100% of my healthcare from the VA and don't have to deal with any of this on a patient level. I said almost.
Probably 99% of the ortho docs and 99% of the O&P offices do not know about this yet. It just may put a Medicare patient in a precarious situation if they accept a brace after September 27th from an S&B.
I would hope the S&B's will make some type of contact with the local O&P office so these patients can be accommodated. It might make even make for some interesting new partnerships.
Have a great week!
Charles Barocas, CO
The 21 page CMS PDF of the new rules can be downloaded at www.asop.org. I was hoping that ABC or AOPA would have had it up by now as well.
This effects all Medicare billing done by an orthopedic supplier within the Doc's office in a so called stock & bill situation. So while the DJO's and other S&B's cannot bill Medicare any longer for braces supplied within the Docs office. They did not lose their Medicare provider number. They only lost the ability to bill Medicare in this situation. If they want, DJO can even set up their own shop across the street from the orthopedic office just like anyone else. I doubt they will, but they can.
I also think we might see some changes to this final rule. There are many interpretations & opinions with any legislation. I am sure some of this final rule will even end up in court. It almost makes me happy I get 100% of my healthcare from the VA and don't have to deal with any of this on a patient level. I said almost.
Probably 99% of the ortho docs and 99% of the O&P offices do not know about this yet. It just may put a Medicare patient in a precarious situation if they accept a brace after September 27th from an S&B.
I would hope the S&B's will make some type of contact with the local O&P office so these patients can be accommodated. It might make even make for some interesting new partnerships.
Have a great week!
Charles Barocas, CO
Citation
Charles Barocas, “New Medicare Rules for Stock & Bills,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/231810.
