A recent CMS change request is addressing an issue on home health claims identified by the Office of Inspector General (OIG), along with a handful of updates to the Claims Processing Manual Chapter 10.  
 
The change on claims will require a county code on all home health claims after an OIG report.
 
The change request also makes clarifications to home health billing instructions regarding Notice of Admission (NOA) timeliness exceptions.
 
Particularly when an exception is needed due to Medicare system delays in processing a resubmission after an NOA was returned due to an error.

The updated language notes:
 
Medicare contractors shall grant an exception for the late NOA if the HHA is able to provide documentation showing:
 
(1) When the original NOA was submitted;
 
(2) When the NOA was returned for correction or was accepted and available for correction and;
 
(3) Evidence the HHA resubmitted the returned NOA within two business days of when it was available for correction or cancelled an accepted NOA within two business days and submitted the new NOA within two business days after the date that the cancellation NOA finalized.
 
The HHA shall provide sufficient information in the Remarks section of its claim to allow the contractor to research the case. If the remarks are not sufficient, Medicare contractors shall request documentation. Documentation should consist of printouts or screen images of any Medicare systems screens that contain the information shown above.
 
There were also changes to address telehealth visits listed on claims and diagnosis code reporting.