MKO
As I read it, the CMS description of 99490 payments calls for a 20% patient copay (8.00 is used in their example)in addition to the $42 billed to Medicare. Am I reading this right? If so, are you collecting this copay from your patients when you bill a 99490?
Thank You,
We are presumably "directing" this care by telephone, without the patient present. When, exactly, are you going to get that copay?
--Next time they come to the office? They have no idea what you are talking about and why they should pay it.
--Send a bill? For $8? It will be ignored, and be rebilled, and pretty soon you will have spend more to try to collect the bill than it is worth.
And before you engage in this CCM you have to have some kind of conference and agreement with the patient -- another thing to keep track of which won't get done after the first one or two.
The patients just need to come to the office. Then care can be "directed" properly -- and we might get paid. Simpler, too. Easy to document.
Good idea, bad implementation.
