BY SUSAN GATEHOUSE, RHIT, CCS, CPC, AHIMA-APPROVED ICD-10/PCS TRAINER The testing phase for the Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) Program officially began January 1, 2020. Upon implementation of the program, physicians and other healthcare professionals who order an advanced diagnostic imaging test (MRI, CT, PET, and nuclear medicine; does not include X-rays, ultrasounds, or fluoroscopy services) must consult with AUC using a qualified decision support mechanism (CDSM). Professionals who provide these tests will be required to register the ordering professional’s consultation of AUC to be paid for the service.
Providers will be required to use a qualified CDSM (certified as meeting Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services/CMS requirements). If a provider does not follow AUC requirements and is discovered to have ordering patterns deemed as outliers, the law mandates that CMS require prior authorization. G-codes are needed for every advanced imaging service, and claims with multiple G-codes “shall be’’ accepted.
0 Comments
|
|