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Archive for the ‘Anesthesia Issues’ Category

Health Law Firm Opens Green Bay Office

Tuesday, May 1st, 2018

Green Bay Health Care Lawyer – Opening Office in Green Bay Wisconsin

I just wanted to let readers of our health care blog know that Ruder Ware will be opening a Green Bay office and that three Green Bay attorneys will be joining our firm. This will provide us with a presence in the Green Bay/Appleton Markets that will enhance our community presence and enable us to better serve our client in eastern Wisconsin. Our health care and compliance practice with be greatly enhanced as a result of this move.

This move will provide a local platform through which we can better serve our health care clients.

Health Care Law Practice – Green Bay Health Lawyers Ruder Ware

Ruder Ware has a long history of representing health care clients.  The firm recognizes that the highly regulated and complex nature of the industry demands the attention of a team of attorneys who, as a group, monitor constantly evolving laws and regulations and their impact on our health care clients.  At Ruder Ware, we offer a full-service solution to clients as our focus team consists of health care, business, employment, and litigation attorneys with knowledge of the health care industry.   As a result, we are able to take best practices from other industries and apply them to the health care industry, thereby increasing the ability to respond promptly to the rapidly changing health care environment.

Members of the focus team have served on the governing bodies of various health care organizations.  This service has provided our attorneys with the opportunity to counsel the health care community.  

Our dedicated team of attorneys represents health care providers in various matters including:

 Health Care Business Transactions and Corporate Law

Our attorneys have substantial expertise representing various health care providers such as:

Below is the official press release:

Media Contact:
Jamie Schaefer
COO
Ruder Ware, L.L.S.C.
P: 715.845.4336
E: jschaefer@ruderware.com

For Immediate Release

Attorneys Ronald Metzler, Christopher Pahl, and Chad Levanetz to join
Ruder Ware at its new Green Bay Office

WAUSAU, WI – April 27, 2018 – Ruder Ware is pleased to announce the opening of its Green Bay office and that Attorneys Ronald Metzler, Christopher Pahl, and Chad Levanetz will be joining the firm. The new office will be located at 222 Cherry Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin, which is the current location of Metzler, Timm, Treleven, S.C.

Attorney Ron Metzler – Having practiced law for over 30 years, Ron is a well-respected and well-known commercial attorney with close ties to the banking industry.

Attorney Chris Pahl – With his strong ties to the Green Bay community, Chris has built his practice around real estate development and condominium law as well as commercial transactions and estate planning.

Attorney Chad Levanetz – A seasoned litigation attorney, Chad counsels clients in the areas of real estate, construction, and general business disputes.

Stew Etten, Ruder Ware managing partner, stated, “Ruder Ware is always looking for outstanding attorneys to join our firm. With the opportunity to add Attorneys Metzler, Pahl, and Levanetz, the time was right to open a Green Bay office. We’re very excited to have attorneys of their caliber join our team of professionals.”

About Ruder Ware
Founded in 1920, Ruder Ware is the largest law firm headquartered north of Madison. With offices in Wausau, Eau Claire, and Green Bay over 40 attorneys provide legal and business advice to clients with operations of all sizes. Areas of practice include: Employment, Benefits & Labor Relations, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Business Transactions, Trusts & Estates, and Fiduciary Services. Ruder Ware, Business Attorneys for Business Success. www.ruderware.com

Media Contact:
Jamie Schaefer
COO
Ruder Ware, L.L.S.C.
P: 715.845.4336
E: jschaefer@ruderware.com

Ambulatory Surgery Center Compliance Legal Practice

Monday, January 1st, 2018

Ruder Ware has developed an active practice counseling ambulatory surgery center providers and has served as special counsel in several cases involving ambulatory surgery center exclusions.  The firm’s health care and compliance attorneys are knowledgeable on the numerous legal and regulatory requirements that are applicable to ASCs.  The regulations applicable to these entities are complex and nuanced.  The consequences of failing to comply or with taking improper steps to exclude providers can be very costly.

Some of the issues that our health care practice has recently addressed include the following:

  • Counseling ASC’s on the application of the Stark law, Anti-Kickback Statute, and ASC safe harbor issues.
  • Advising and representing providers on issues relating to conditions of participation and governmental surveys.
  • Representing organizations in preparing and submitting self-disclosure to the government.
  • Structuring ASC/Anesthesia Arrangements
  • Development of ASC investment entities.
  • Establishment of ASC compliance programs.
  • Decisions regarding exclusion of “under-performing” providers.
  • Structuring exclusion provisions to minimize risk of violating regulations or enhancing the risk of litigation.
  • Sale and purchase of surgery centers.
  • ASC licensure and governmental approval.
  • Compliance with patient confidentiality and privacy laws.
  • Risk assessment, audits, compliance work plans, staff compliance training.
  • Contractual relationships with outside parties.
  • Ambulatory Surgery Center Lawyers – Ambulatory Surgery Center Lawyers

Ambulatory Surgery Center Attorney

John H. Fisher has practiced health care law for over 25 years.  One of John’s significant areas of expertise involves the regulatory and business aspects of ambulatory surgery centers.  Over the years, John has represented numerous clients on legal and compliance issues related to ambulatory surgery centers.  John consults as a subject matter expert and provider legal backup to other attorneys and law firms from around the country on issues relating to ambulatory surgery centers.  Some of John’s more recent ASC related projects include:

  • Representation of an ASC in connection with the exclusion of non-complying owners.
  • Representation of excluded providers in litigation and settlement.
  • Creating operating documents that comply with ambulatory surgery center safe harbors and other applicable regulatory requirements.
  • Creation of policies and procedures required to gain certification as an ASC.

Anesthesia Service Profit Centers – OIG Advisory Opinion 13-14

Monday, November 25th, 2013

Anesthesia Billing Arrangements – New OIG Advisory Opinion 13-14

anesthesia billing advisory opinionThe Office of Inspector General has released a new advisory opinion addressing the implications of a contract for anesthesia services between an anesthesiology group and a psychiatry group.  OIG Advisory Opinion No. 13-15 was published on November 15, 2013.  The opinion illustrates the OIG’s difficulty with arrangements between existing anesthesiology groups who are forced to forego the right to bill for their professional fees in order to provide anesthesia services for patients of a provider who is not historically in the business of providing anesthesia services.  This type of arrangement seems to be arising more frequently as provider groups search for ways to capitalize on additional revenue streams from their existing patient base.

Opinion 13-15 involved a psychiatry group who proposed a  contract with an anesthesiology group to provide additional anesthesia coverage for patients of the psychiatry group who were undergoing electroconclusive therapy procedures.  Under the contract, the anesthesiology group reassigned its rights to bill and collect for its anesthesia services to the psychiatry group.  The anesthesia group agreed to accept a fixed per diem rate for providing anesthesia services for the psychiatry group’s patients.  The arrangement permitted the psychiatry group to profit from the difference between anesthesia billings and the per diem fee paid to the anesthesia group.

The OIG found that this arrangement created a risk of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute.  The OIG noted that the per diem amounts the psychiatry group would pay to the anesthesia group would not qualify for protection under the safe harbor for personal services and management contracts for a number of reasons, including the aggregate compensation to be paid over the term of the agreement would be neither set in advance nor consistent with fair market value.  Additionally, the safe harbor protects only payments made by a principal (here, the psychiatry group) to an agent (here, the anesthesia group).  The safe harbor does not protect the remuneration from the anesthesia group to the psychiatry group that is of issue in this case.

After determining that there was no safe harbor available to protect the arrangement, the OIG went on to analyze the risk that the arrangement would present under the Anti-Kickback Statute.  The OIG concluded that the arrangement appears to be designed to permit the psychiatry group to indirectly receive compensation, in the form of a portion of requestor’s anesthesia services revenues, in return for the psychiatry group’s referrals of patients to the anesthesia group.  The OIG concluded that the arrangement presents a significant risk that the opportunity to generate profit on anesthesia services would be in return for referrals.

Advisory Opinion 13-15 is just the latest in a long line of releases that casts a shadow on attempts of one provider group to profit from captive referrals for services that it does not ordinarily provide.  The OIG seems to permit the legitimate extension of services by groups like the psychiatry group at issue in 13-15.  The OIG had no difficulty with the psychiatry providing anesthesia services by a psychiatrist member of the psychiatry group who was also qualified to provide anesthesia services.  To contrast, the OIG is obviously suspicious of arrangements that permit the non-anesthesia group to profit from the services of the anesthesia group.  The consequences of a violation under the Anti-Kickback Statute can include both criminal and civil damages.  As a result, providers need to be extremely cautious about entering into the type of arrangement that appears contrived to permit a profit to be made from services that are normally billed by an anesthesia provider.

Please feel free to contact John Fisher, CHC, CCEP, in the Ruder Ware Health Care Industry Focus Group for more information.

Anesthesia Company Models and Advisory Opinion 12-06

Friday, May 17th, 2013

Anesthesia Company Models and Advisory Opinion 12-06

anesthesia company modelAs previously reported on this blog, the Department of Health and Human Services issued advisory opinion 12-06 in June 2012.  This advisory opinion has an impact on many relationships between physician groups, ambulatory surgery centers and providers of anesthesia services.

Generally, the advisory opinion addressed the permissibly of the “company model.”  Under the company model, a physician group who provides surgical services will establish a separate company and provide ownership interest to an anesthesia group.  This structure is created in order for the surgery group to take advantage of some of the revenues from anesthesia services.  The jointly held entity is the billing provider for the anesthesia component of the care.

Advisory opinion 12-06 addressed the company model and found that such a model was potentially a violation of the Medicare Anti-Kickback Statute.  However, the advisory opinion did not go so far as to say that all anesthesia models were impermissible.  Each circumstance must be looked at under its specific facts.  It is often possible to structure these arrangements to take advantage of an Anti-Kickback Statute Safe Harbor or to otherwise minimize the risk to an acceptable level.

There has been a lot of talk in the industry following the release of advisory opinion 12-06.  Many sources are saying that this advisory opinion completely abolished the ability of a surgery group to be involved in anesthesia service revenues.  It is important that providers have a clear understanding of the true implications of advisory opinion 12-06 and the structures that are still permissible without creating unacceptable risk under the Anti-Kickback Statute.

Ruder Ware health care has advised physician practices and anesthesia groups regarding the structuring of permissible arrangements.  We have also represented providers and payors with respect to other types of anesthesia billing and contract matters.  If you have questions regarding advisory opinion 12-06, or any other legal issue pertaining to health care law, please contact us through the contact information on this blog.

Medically Directed Anesthesia Conditions For Payment

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

Conditions For Payment Of Medically Directed Anesthesia

 medically directed anesthesia coverageIn my previous article regarding anesthesia billing practices, I neglected to mention another risk associated with over billing for medically directed anesthesia.  Engaging in the described practices tends to raise issues beyond the “double billing” issue that is directly raised.  This type of issue can also raise further scrutiny of the source bills.  For example, an insurer may decide to perform an extended audit of billings as a result of the billing anomalies that I described in my previous article.  The review might disclose a systematic problem documenting all of the prerequisites that permit the billing for medically directed services.

 In order to bill medically directed anesthesia services, seven primary elements need to be clearly indicated in the medical record:

  1. The physician must perform a pre-anesthetic examination and evaluation;
  2. The physician must prescribe the anesthesia care;
  3. The physician must personally participate in the most demanding aspects of the anesthesia plan, including, if applicable, induction and emergence;
  4. The physician must assure that any procedures in the anesthesia plan, that he or she does not perform, are performed by a qualified individual as defined in the operating instructions;
  5. The physician must monitor the course of anesthesia administration at frequent intervals;
  6. The physician must remain physically present and available for immediate diagnosis and treatment of emergencies; and
  7. The physician must provide indicated post-anesthesia care.

If one or more of these elements is not indicated in the medical record, the claim may be denied altogether, sometimes for both the physician and the CRNA services.  The physician alone is responsible for documenting each of these activities in the chart.  Like everything else, if it is not in the chart, it did not take place.

 

You can see how the originally risky billing practice could trigger a further audit and in turn uncover deficiencies in documenting the conditions for medically directed reimbursement.  If a systematic error is made in documenting the seven elements, there can be significant additional financial exposure to the group.

Anesthesia Company Model Advisory Opinion 12-06

Monday, February 11th, 2013

Anesthesia Company Models and Advisory Opinion 12-06

Anesthesia Advisory OpinionAs previously reported on this blog, the Department of Health and Human Services issued advisory opinion 12-06 in June 2012.  This advisory opinion has an impact on many relationships between physician groups, ambulatory surgery centers and providers of anesthesia services.

Generally, the advisory opinion addressed the permissibility of the “company model.”  Under the company model, a physician group who provides surgical services will establish a separate company and provide ownership interest to an anesthesia group.  This structure is created in order for the surgery group to take advantage of some of the revenues from anesthesia services.  The jointly held entity is the billing provider for the anesthesia component of the care.

Advisory opinion 12-06 addressed the company model and found that such a model was potentially a violation of the Medicare Anti-Kickback Statute.  However, the advisory opinion did not go so far as to say that all anesthesia models were impermissible.  Each circumstance must be looked at under its specific facts.  It is often possible to structure these arrangements to take advantage of an Anti-Kickback Statute Safe Harbor or to otherwise minimize the risk to an acceptable level.

There has been a lot of talk in the industry following the release of advisory opinion 12-06.  Many sources are saying that this advisory opinion completely abolished the ability of a surgery group to be involved in anesthesia service revenues.  It is important that providers have a clear understanding of the true implications of advisory opinion 12-06 and the structures that are still permissible without creating unacceptable risk under the Anti-Kickback Statute.

Ruder Ware health care has advised physician practices and anesthesia groups regarding the structuring of permissible arrangements.  We have also represented providers and payors with respect to other types of anesthesia billing and contract matters.  If you have questions regarding advisory opinion 12-06, or any other legal issue pertaining to health care law, please contact us through the contact information on this blog.

CMS Opens CRNA Reimbursement Into Pain Management

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

CRNA Pain Management Services Now Reimbursed If Permitted Under State Law

CMS Pain Managment ReimbursementThe proposed 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule would expand the definition of certified registered nurse anesthetist services to include “medical and surgical services that are related to anesthesia and that a CRNA is legally authorized to perform by the state in which the services are furnished.”  CMS plans to make this change in order to accommodate the laws of several states who are expanding the scope of practice of CRNA’s into areas that are commonly reserved to physicians in the area pain management.

 The new CMS policy would permit CRNAs to be reimbursed for pain management services if those services are within the scope of their practice under the applicable state laws.  The new policy clarifies inconsistent policies among Medicare Administrative Contractors who have been interpreting provisions differently across the country.  CMS cautioned however, that the CRNA is responsible for obtaining appropriate training and education regarding pain management services.

 This area is surfacing as another area of dispute between physician anesthesiologist and CRNA’s.  The American Society of Anesthesiologists has strongly stated its opposition to the CMS rules.  On the other hand the American Nursing Association supports the extension of the law and argue that the accreditation standards for CRNA programs are sufficient to provide CRNA’s with the training necessary to engage in the practice pain management.

 We are likely to see this controversy continue to boil following the finalization of the rule.  The controversy is likely to be taken to the state lawmakers who will be pressured by the Nursing Associations to extend the scope of practice of CRNA’s in individual states.  This may result in a replay of many of the disputes that arose from CMS policies that granted states the ability to grant CRNAs the right to perform anesthesia services without supervision by licensed physicians.

OIG Issues 2013 Annual Work Plan, Outlines Areas of Focus for Fiscal Year Ahead

Wednesday, October 10th, 2012

OIG 2013 Annual Work Plan Summary 

            Medical Practice Compliance Programs  The Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health of Health and Human Services (“OIG”) has published their annual work plan for the 2013 fiscal year (“2013 Work Plan”).  The Work Plan focuses on areas where OIG plans to focus significant resources during the 2013 fiscal year.  The 2013 Work Plan creates opportunities for providers to get a glimpse of what the OIG feels is important and to integrate these areas into their ongoing compliance activities.

              This update will briefly summarize some of the new issues that were added this year.  It is not a comprehensive description of all items that are on the OIG’s radar.  Providers are advised to review the entire 2013 Work Plan plus the work plans from the past several years to get a more complete picture of issues that the OIG feels are important.

Hospital-Related Issues

1.           Expansion of DRG Payment Window.  OIG states its intent is to analyze claims data to determine whether any savings could be achieved by bundling outpatient services that are delivered up to 14 days before a hospital inpatient admission.  Current Medicare policy bundles outpatient services that are delivered three days prior to inpatient admission into the “DRG window.”

2.           Provider-Based Status of Hospital on Physician Practices.  There is currently an incentive for a physician group to bill as a provider-based physician practice where there are ties to a hospital.  The OIG will be reviewing the appropriateness of physician practices who are billing as “provider-based” groups without meeting all of the necessary criteria.

3.           Medicare Transfer Policy.  The OIG will review Medicare payments made to hospitals for beneficiary discharges that should more appropriately have been coded as transfers.  Hospitals that transfer beneficiaries to another facility are not entitled to the full DRG payment that is due when a patient is properly discharged.  This creates an incentive for hospitals to code for a discharge when the patient is actually being transferred to another facility.  The OIG will be reviewing hospital billings to look for inappropriate “discharge” classifications.  Hospitals should audit their discharge and transfer practices to be certain that they are properly coding transfers where applicable.

4.           Payment for Discharges to Swing Beds and Other Hospitals.  Currently, Medicare does not reduce the DRG amount that is paid when a patient transfer is made into a “swing bed,” even when the “swing bed” is located in a separate facility.  The OIG will be reviewing this practice to determine whether any savings can come from reducing DRG payments when the swing bed transfer is made to another facility.

5.           Hospital Payments for Canceled Surgical Procedures.  The OIG will be reviewing payments that are made for canceled surgical procedures which are then followed by a second payment for a rescheduled procedure.  Current Medicare policy does not preclude payments for claims when there is an inpatient stay followed by canceled surgical procedure.  CMS will be reviewing this policy to determine whether savings can be made in this area.

6.           Payments from the Mechanical Ventilation.  CMS will be reviewing Medicare payments for mechanical ventilation.  Patients are required to receive 96 hours of mechanical ventilation in order to be eligible for payments under the DRG system.

7.           Improve An Organization Work With Hospital.  OIG will be reviewing the extent that Quality Improvement Organizations have worked with hospitals to conduct quality improvement projects and to provide technical assistance.

8.           Hospital Acquisition of Ambulatory Surgery Centers.  OIG will be reviewing hospital acquisitions of ambulatory surgery centers to determine whether these centers are being acquired as a method to increase reimbursement.  ASC services that are provided as in an outpatient department of the hospital are reimbursed at higher rates than independently owned an ambulatory surgery centers.

9.           Critical Access Hospital Payments for Swing Bed Services.  Critical access hospitals are able to designate a portion of the 25 bed allotment for use as acute care or swing bed services with CMS’s approval.  There is no limitation on the length of stay that is permitted for swing bed utilization.  The OIG will be reviewing this policy to determine whether reimbursement changes are required in this area.

Long Term Care Issues

1.           Long-Term Care Hospital Interrupted State Payments.  The OIG will be reviewing Medicare payments for interrupted stays in long-term care hospitals for the year 2011.  They will be identifying readmission patterns to determine whether the long-term care hospital’s re-admittance policies are in compliance with rules.

2.           Nursing Home Verification of State Agency Deficiency Corrections.  The OIG will be determining whether state survey agencies properly followed up and verified fulfillment of corrective action plans for deficiencies and identified during nursing home recertification surveys.  The OIG is concerned that state survey agencies may not always be verifying that identified deficiencies were properly corrected.

3.           Nursing Home Use of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs.  The OIG will be reviewing administration of atypical antipsychotic drugs to nursing home residents.  The OIG will describe characteristics associated with nursing homes that frequently administer atypical antipsychotic drugs.

4.           Nursing Home Minimum Data Set Submissions.  OIG will determine whether CMS and state agencies oversee the accuracy and completion of minimum data sets that are submitted for nursing facilities.

Home Health Care

1.           Home Health Agency Face-To-Face Requirements.  OIG will be reviewing Medicare eligible home health services to be certain that face-to-face encounters are taking place as required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  Previous studies indicated that only 30% of beneficiaries had at least one face-to-face visit with the physician who ordered the home health.

2.           Criminal Background Checks By Home Health Agencies.  The OIG will be reviewing home health agencies to determine whether they are complying with state requirements that require criminal background checks to be conducted on home health applicants and employees.  Federal law requires compliance with state and local laws regarding criminal background checks.  In previous OIG reviews, 92% of nursing homes employed at least one individual with criminal convictions.

Medical Equipment Suppliers

1.           Accreditation of Medical Equipment Suppliers.  OIG will be reviewing CMS procedures for conducting validation surveys of medical equipment suppliers.  CMS is required to conduct validation surveys regarding beneficiary safety and quality of care that may place Medicare beneficiaries at risk.

2.           Payments for Power Mobility Devices.  A series of reviews will be conducted relative to power mobility devices.  Reviews will focus on whether Medicare payments made to suppliers were made in accordance with federal regulations and were “reasonable and necessary.”  OIG will also be reviewing payment methods to determine whether savings can be achieved by eliminating the option of a lump sum purchase and requiring leasing of some power mobility devices.

3.           Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Supplies.  CMS will be reviewing whether scheduling of replacement supplies is appropriate and whether changing the scheduling could avoid possible wasteful spending.  There is currently no national requirement for CPAP replacement schedules.

4.           Diabetes Testing Supplies.  There are a number of new areas identified for examination relating to diabetes testing supplies.  Providers involved in these areas should carefully review the new items that relate to diabetes management and testing.

Program Integrity

1.           Onsite Visits for Medical Providers in Supplier Enrollment and Reenrollment.  CMS has the right as it deems necessary to perform onsite inspections of providers who are enrolling in the Medicare program.  CMS is authorized to expand the role of unannounced pre-enrollment visits.  Reviews found that some 33% of medical equipment suppliers in South Florida do not maintain physical facilities.  OIG will be examining these requirements to determine whether additional site visits are appropriate.

2.           Improper Use of Commercial Mailboxes.  Medicare providers are required to establish a physical business location with a permanent visible sign and a specific street addresses.  Mailboxes alone or not permitted.  Recent evidence suggests that individuals attempting to defraud Medicare may be using commercial mailbox addresses for this purpose.  OIG will be reviewing providers and suppliers to determine whether their listed addresses match commercial mailbox addresses.

3.           Provider Subject To Debt Collection.  CMS will be determining whether payment should be rechanneled relative to providers who have been reported to the Department of Treasury for collection of overpayment refunds.

Physician Billing

1.           Payment for Personally Performed Anesthesia Services.  OIG will be reviewing anesthesia claims to determine whether they are supported in accordance with Medicare requirements.  In order for a provider to be reimbursed as a personally performed anesthesia service, proper information must be included on the claim and in the medical chart to verify the claim.  Service modifier “AA” is used in connection with anesthesia services that are personally perform.  QK modifiers are used for medical direction of two, three, four concurrent anesthesia services.  Providers using “AA” modifiers must be able to support the requirement for receiving 100% of the personally performed services.

2.           Questionable Ophthalmological Service Billings for 2011.  OIG will be reviewing claims data to identify questionable billings for ophthalmologic services during 2011.  They will review geographic locations and provider patterns where questionable billings are located.  The types of billing that will be examined were not identified.

3.           Electrodiagnostic Testing.  OIG will be reviewing questionable billing for electrodiagnostic testing and will be attempting to identify Medicare utilization rates and get different rates by provider specialty, diagnosis, and geographic areas.  OIG identifies electrodiagnostic testing as an area of potential inappropriate financial gain posing significant vulnerabilities to the Medicare program.

Miscellaneous

1.           Location Requirements for Rural Health Clinics.  Rural health clinics are required to meet basic location requirements.  CMS has not promulgated final regulations allowing removal of rural health clinics that did not meet location requirements.  OIG will be reviewing this procedure.

2.           Claims Processing Areas “G” Modifiers.  The OIG will determine the extent to which Medicare improperly paid claims from 2002 to 2011 where certain “G” modifiers were used.  “G” modifiers are used to indicate that Medicare denial is expected by the provider.  It has been identified that some payments were made to providers in spite of the use of these modifier codes.

3.           Analysis of Drug Shortage in Patient Safety Concerns.  The OIG will be examining the recent trend of drug shortages to determine whether there has been an effect on pricing of pharmaceuticals.  Suspicion of industry price manipulation appears to be the motivation behind this system.

Summary

              This is a brief summary of some of the areas that were described in the recent 2013 Work Plan.  For a more comprehensive discussion of these items, visit the website for the Office of Inspector General and download the complete fiscal year 2013 annual work plan.  It is highly advisable for compliance officers to examine the document in its entirety to determine what impact, if any, it will have on their compliance efforts for fiscal year 2013.  It is also good practice to review annual work plans for several previous years as part of the risk identification process.

              If there are any questions regarding these requirements or how they impact compliance programs and detailed requirements that are generally described in this document, please do not hesitate to contact John H. Fisher, II, Esq., CCEP, CHC.

Medically Directed Anesthesia – Payment Conditions

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Conditions For Payment Of Medically Directed Anesthesia

 In my previous article regarding anesthesia billing practices, I neglected to mention another risk associated with overbilling for medically directed anesthesia.  Engaging in the described practices tends to raise issues beyond the “double billing” issue that is directly raised.  This type of issue can also raise further scrutiny of the source bills.  For example, an insurer may decide to perform an extended audit of billings as a result of the billing anomalies that I described in my previous article.  The review might disclose a systematic problem documenting all of the prerequisites that permit the billing for medically directed services.

            In order to bill medically directed anesthesia services, seven primary elements need to be clearly indicated in the medical record:

  1.  The physician must perform a pre-anesthetic examination and evaluation;
  2. The physician must prescribe the anesthesia care;
  3. The physician must personally participate in the most demanding aspects of the anesthesia plan, including, if applicable, induction and emergence;
  4. The physician must assure that any procedures in the anesthesia plan, that he or she does not perform, are performed by a qualified individual as defined in the operating instructions;
  5. The physician must monitor the course of anesthesia administration at frequent intervals;
  6. The physician must remain physically present and available for immediate diagnosis and treatment of emergencies; and
  7. The physician must provide indicated post-anesthesia care.

If one or more of these elements is not indicated in the medical record, the claim may be denied altogether, sometimes for both the physician and the CRNA services.  The physician alone is responsible for documenting each of these activities in the chart.  Like everything else, if it is not in the chart, it did not take place.

You can see how the originally risky billing practice could trigger a further audit and in turn uncover deficiencies in documenting the conditions for medically directed reimbursement.  If a systematic error is made in documenting the seven elements, there can be significant additional financial exposure to the group.

Anesthesia Billing Company Costly Advise Medically Directed Anesthesia

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Agressive Anesthesia Billing Advice Can Be Costly

I wanted to alert anesthesia groups to what I consider to be some very bad advice that is being provid ed by some billing consultants.  If taken, the advice could put your group in the midst of a lawsuit with a third-party payor or even a claim of insurance fraud under state insurance laws.

By now, pretty much everyone understands the general rule for billing multiple medically directed CRNAs.  It is industry standard to compensate a provider for up to four medically directed CRNAs; provided that the seven basis elements for medical direction are performed and documents in the patient’s record.  Industry standard and Medicare regulation permit reimbursement for multiple medical directions, but total reimbursement is never allowed in amounts that would exceed 100% of what the anesthesiologist would be paid if he or she had performed the service on their own.

 Medicare imposes the 100% restriction by compensating both the anesthesiologist and the CRNA 50% each when the anesthesiologist is medically directing up to four CRNAs.  The overall limitation is generally followed in the private insurance context by either reimbursing 100% of the anesthesiologist charge or by paying 100% of the first claim to be processed.

Some billing companies have begun giving extremely aggressive, and I believe extremely risky, advice to their anesthesia clients.  In some cases, there may be a history of the anesthesia group “self-discounting” their medically directed cases so they cannot be viewed as double billing for medically directed cases.  Double billing would occur if the group billed and collected for 100% of both the anesthesiologist and the CRNAs charge.  This is fairly clear.  Billing for both providers can be justified in some instances, but the presence of both providers must be medically directed and well documented in the medical record.  Special coding modifiers are used to indicate when a claim is being made for 100% of both the CRNA and anesthesiologist’s time.

Some aggressive billing companies will recommend that the anesthesia group end a previous practice of pre-discounting their bills without notice to the insurance provider.  This is sometimes done by the billing company without first advising the client.  This practice has the effect of greatly increasing revenues because it in effect double bills the insurer for medically directed cases.  The case coding remains the same as the group previously coded; indicating a medically directed case.  The effective per unit cost doubles virtually overnight.  In some cases, it may continue undetected.  Usually the insurance company will eventually notice that anesthesia costs are increasing.  At the point of discovery, the insurance company will seek recoupment of amounts that it has overpaid.  Most contracts will permit the insurance company to withhold future payments to offset previously overpaid amounts.

Even though the group may have relied on the advice of a billing company, the group really has no meaningful defense once the insurance company discovers that a change in billing practice without prior notice resulted in a significant overpayment.  The amount of overpayment can climb into the millions of dollars before it is discovered.

 If this practice took place involving the Medicare program, there is no question that it would create liability under the False Claims Act and could possibly even trigger criminal charges for false billing.  Most states have insurance fraud statutes that create civil and/or criminal liability for submitting false or fraudulent insurance claims that could apply to the type of practice.

The Federal False Claims Act could expose the practice to three times the actual total amount of the improperly billed claims plus between $5,000 and $11,000 per claim.  There can be hundreds of claims involved, so the dollar amount of exposure can be financially devastating.  The application of state insurance law statutes will vary by state.  However, the financial and criminal exposure from this type of practice can be significant under state law as well.

The group will always remain “on the hook” for the consequences of billing for their services; even when they were advised to undertake the practice and often even when the practice was commenced without their knowledge.  You may have a lawsuit against the billing company, but the insurer, the OIG, DOJ or state enforcement agencies will look primarily to the physician or the group when problems arise.

If you have been presented with “unique” billing opportunities that promise to net your increased revenue, take great care.  It is always possible that you can legitimately amend your practices to net more revenue.  You should be cautious before implementing any changes in billing practices.  If you are being promised something that may be too good to be true, it probably is.  If you have any doubts, contact a health care attorney before changing your practices.

Once the issue is raised by a third party, you will necessarily be on the defensive.  The additional revenues that you receive along the way will not come close to justifying the pain and anguish you will go through following detection.

Be careful of who you choose to do your billing.  Make certain that you bind them to a contract that restricts the type of activity described in this article.  Make certain that you have an ongoing dialogue with your billing company about their practices.  Make certain that you periodically audit their activities under your compliance program.

John H. Fisher

Health Care Counsel
Ruder Ware, L.L.S.C.
500 First Street, Suite 8000
P.O. Box 8050
Wausau, WI 54402-8050

Tel 715.845.4336
Fax 715.845.2718

Ruder Ware is a member of Meritas Law Firms Worldwide

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