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| Date: 03/19/2010 |
| Description: Limited Availability of Medica Electronic Transactions This Weekend |
| Alert: Beginning late Friday, March 19, there will be limited availability of Electronic Transactions on medica.com due to scheduled maintenance related to the Medica Web site. As a result of this scheduled weekend update, Medica online transactions will only provide limited data such as member eligibility. Medica apologizes for any inconvenience. |
| Action: No action is required. |
| Date: 03/18/2010 |
| Description: Medica to Implement Next Phase of EPRA Enhancements |
Alert: Medica will soon implement the latest enhancements to its electronic provider remittance advice (EPRA) for the majority of Medica-processed claims. These changes in the HIPAA 835 transaction should improve convenience and security of EPRAs for providers. These changes are tentatively scheduled to be effective with March 20, 2010, dates of processing. The scheduled changes are:
- The original member ID submitted on claim will report in Patient Name (NM1 with QC Qualifier) and Insured Name (NM1 with IL Qualifier) segments, if applicable.
- If submitted member ID is different than adjudicated member ID, the 9-digit corrected member identification number will be returned in Corrected Patient/Insured Name (NM1 with 74 Qualifier) segment.
- The group number will report in Other Claim Related Identification (REF with 1L Qualifier) segment.
- If a proprietary patient relationship code is submitted on claim as part of member ID, it will be reported in NM1 QC/IL; otherwise, the proprietary patient relationship code will no longer be reported.
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| Action: Further details about these enhancements are available online in a related March 2010 EPRA Enhancements reference document. If you have questions, you can call the Medica Provider Service Center toll-free at 1-800-458-5512. |
| Date: 03/16/2010 |
| Description: Code Edits to Soon be Applied for Certain Zenith TPA PPO Claims |
| Alert: To help improve claims payment accuracy, certain Ingenix code edits will soon be applied to PPO claims for the TPA Zenith Administrators. These edits are expected to be implemented in late April or early May 2010. Providers should be familiar with code edits such as bundling/unbundling from other payers. At this time, the new edits will only be applied to LaborCare claims for professional services submitted to the Birmingham, AL, claim submission address (electronic payer ID 00014) for Zenith Administrators as the TPA. |
| Action: Providers do not need to take further action at this time. |
| Date: 03/11/2010 |
| Description: EDI Vendor Available for Electronic Submission of PPO Claims |
| Alert: Minnesota-based providers are required to submit all claims electronically, including professional and institutional claims. Providers without a current electronic data interface (EDI) vendor can rely on EDI vendor IGI-USA at no cost to comply with this requirement. This vendor is available to SelectCare and LaborCare providers for submission of related PPO claims electronically (for payer ID #00014). IGI is recommended by health plans and payers for small providers that typically submit paper claims. This vendor option is available as a direct data entry solution for providers to comply with the Minnesota electronic claims mandate. Providers can learn about the IGI registration process by visiting mneconnect.com, submitting inquiries by e-mail to mneconnect.support@igiusa.com, or calling IGI directly and toll-free at 1 (877) 444-7194. |
| Action: This requirement applies to SelectCare and LaborCare for payer ID #00014 when providers submit PPO claims. To help ensure efficient claims processing that results in the quickest turnaround time for payment, PPO claims should include the group number as indicated on the member's ID card. Using an incorrect group number will result in a claim rejection. |
| Updated 03/09/2010 |
| Date: 01/05/2010 |
| Description: Blood Count Lab Claims for Medicare Members Processed Incorrectly |
| Alert: Medica has identified a system error causing inappropriate processing of blood count lab codes for Medicare claims between December 10 and December 31, 2009. Claims processed incorrectly were denied with reason code 149 (“Doesn’t Meet Medicare NCD/LCD Criteria”). Medica has corrected the system error and will reprocess all affected claims. Providers should notice adjustments to such claims within 60 days. |
Action: No action is required. Providers do not need to submit claim adjustment requests.
Update (03/09/2010): Medica has identified additional blood count lab claims that were incorrectly denied through March 3, 2010, dates of processing. Medica has corrected the system error and will reprocess all affected claims. Providers do not need to submit claim adjustment requests and should notice adjustments to affected claims within 60 days. Medica apologizes for any inconvenience this issue may have caused. |
| Date: 03/02/2010 |
| Description: Medica Electronic Remittance Advices Missing Adjustment Codes on 2/26/2010 Files |
| Alert: Medica has identified a system error that caused Electronic Provider Remittance Advice files (EPRAs, or HIPAA 835 transactions) to be sent out with missing Claim Adjustment Reason Code (CARC) information. The error, which was limited to February 26, 2010, dates of processing, has been corrected, but corrected 835s will not be regenerated. |
| Action: Providers should reference the paper version of the Provider Remittance Advice (PRA) to obtain missing information. Medica apologizes for any inconvenience this issue may have caused. |
| Date: 02/26/2010 |
| Description: Same Day Same Service Policy Updated to Require Modifier 25 |
| Alert: Effective with February 27, 2010, dates of processing, Medica will allow payment for more than one evaluation and management (E/M) service provided to a patient by the same physician when modifier 25 is appended to the second code to indicate that a separate unrelated service was provided on the same date of service. Modifiers 76 or 77 will no longer allow payment for the subsequent visit. During a 45-day transition period, Medica has a process for identifying and correcting claims with E/M codes that are submitted with the 76 or 77 modifer.For additional information, providers may refer to the Same Day Same Service Policy on medica.com. |
| Action: Modifier 25 must be appended to an E/M code to report a separate unrelated service by the same provider on the same date of service as of February 27. Providers do not need to resubmit claims that are denied if submitted with the 76 or 77 modifier during this transition period as Medica will reprocess these affected claims. |
| Date: 02/22/2010 |
| Description: Certain SelectCare Claims Denied Incorrectly by Aetna |
| Alert: SelectCare providers may have experienced claim denials by Aetna for services by Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners. This had an impact on claims submitted November 14, 2009, through December 17, 2009, and for claims submitted January 22, 2010, through January 28, 2010. Aetna has put in place a system resolution for all services performed by these providers and will automatically adjudicate related claims. As a result of this retroactive correction, providers do not need to request that any such denied claims be reconsidered for payment. Aetna anticipates that all affected claims will be reprocessed within 60 days. |
| Action: No further action is required. Aetna apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused. |
| Date: 02/19/2010 |
| Description: Medica Expands Coverage for Gastrointestinal Surgery For Morbid Obesity |
| Alert: Effective with February 17, 2010, dates of service, Medica has expanded its coverage for gastrointestinal surgery for morbid obesity to include the sleeve gastrectomy procedure when medical necessity criteria have been met. This change applies for all Medica members. Prior authorization continues to be required for this procedure. Coverage determinations on other related procedures have not changed from the previous policy. |
| Action: As of March 1, 2010, providers will be able to see the complete text of the policy that applies to this determination, under "Utilization Management Policies." |
| Date: 02/19/2010 |
| Description: Medica Expands Coverage for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine |
Alert: Effective with February 17, 2010, dates of service, Medica has expanded its coverage for human papillomavirun (HPV) vaccine. This change applies for all Medica members. Medica now covers the following HPV vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
- Gardasil® is covered for the FDA-approved indications for female and male patients 9-26 years of age;
- Cervarix® is covered for the FDA-approved indications for female patients 9-26 years of age.
HPV vaccine is not covered for adults 27 years of age or older and children younger than 9 years of age. |
| Action: As of March 1, 2010, providers will be able to see the complete text of the policy that applies to this determination, under "Coverage Policies." |
| Date: 02/19/2010 |
| Description: Medica.com Downtime Scheduled for This Weekend |
| Alert: Beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, February 20, the Medica Web site will be down and unavailable due to scheduled maintenance. The site will be available for use again on Sunday, February 21. Medica apologizes for any inconvenience. |
| Action: No further action is required. |
| Date: 02/16/2010 |
| Description: Update to Medica's Position on Consultation Codes |
| Alert: This is a clarification regarding a previous Medica Provider Alert sent in December 2009. Beginning with January 1, 2010, dates of service, consultation CPT codes 99241-99245 (for office/outpatient services) and 99251-99255 (for inpatient services) have become invalid for reimbursement related to all Medica Medicare members (including Minnesota Health Care Programs enrollees who have Medicare as a primary payer). G-codes for telehealth consultation services remain active and valid for Medicare members. The consultation codes 99241-99245 and 99251-99255 continue to be active and valid to report consultation services for Medica members in commercial (employer-based) and non-Medicare-funded Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) products. |
| Action: No further action is required. Providers can refer to the following tools for details on Medicare and MHCP products, including group numbers for each plan:
Medica Medicare products overview
MHCP benefit grid |
| Date: 02/01/2010 |
| Description: Medica Adds New Claims Status Inquiry Transaction Online |
Alert: Effective February 1, 2010, Medica has added claims status inquiry as an electronic transaction. This enhancement to Medica online transactions allows providers to see the status of Medica claims (excluding mental health, chiropractic and non-network claims). “Claims Status Inquiry” is now listed as a new transaction on the Electronic Transactions web page. This new capability allows providers to:
- see pending, paid, payable and denied status of claims
- see when claims were paid or denied
- search claims by patient name or by patient ID number
Each time Medica adds a new electronic function online, users need to have their account updated by their Primary Administrator to obtain access to the new function. For more details on the new claims status functionality, providers can:
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| Action: Providers can begin using this new online function today to look up claims status. |
| Date: 01/26/2010 |
| Description: Medica Adds Coverage for Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence |
Alert: Effective with January 20, 2010, dates of service, Medica has added new coverage for transobturator tape (TOT) sling treatment for female stress urinary incontinence. This change applies for all Medica members. All other related coverage remains unchanged, including that outlined in these coverage policies:
- "Urethral Bulking Agents for Urinary Incontinence"
- "Sacral Nerve Stimulation"
- "Extracorporeal Magnetic Stimulation (EMS) for the Treatment of Urinary Incontinence"
- "Radiofrequency Bladder Neck Suspension for Treatment of Stress Incontinence in Women (SURx®)"
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| Action: As of February 1, 2010, providers will be able to see the complete text of the coverage policy that applies to this determination, under Coverage Policies. |
| Date: 01/26/2010 |
| Description: Medica Expands Coverage for Trastuzumab (Herceptin) |
Alert: Effective with January 20, 2010, dates of service, Medica has expanded its coverage for trastuzumab (Herceptin®) to also include treatment for advanced gastric cancer. This change applies for all Medica members. Medica now covers trastuzumab for the following indications:
- Treatment of breast cancer after HER2 overexpression is confirmed using FDA-approved assays in accordance with current guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/College of American Pathologists (CAP).
- Treatment of advanced gastric cancer after HER2 overexpression is confirmed using FDA-approved assays.
Herceptin continues to be considered investigative and therefore remains not covered for all other indications including, but not limited to, treatment of breast cancer or gastric cancer that does not overexpress HER2, as well as treatment of all other cancers.
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| Action: As of February 1, 2010, providers will be able to see the complete text of the coverage policy that applies to this determination, under Coverage Policies. |
| Date: 01/18/2010 |
| Description: New Reference Tools Posted on medica.com |
| Alert: Medica has developed or updated several helpful reference tools to better assist provider offices in getting information about Medica products and coverage.
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| Action: Providers are encouraged to reference these documents whenever appropriate. |
| Date: 01/05/2010 |
| Description: Blood Count Lab Claims for Medicare Members Processed Incorrectly |
Alert: Medica has identified a system error causing inappropriate processing of blood count lab codes for Medicare claims between December 10 and December 31, 2009. Claims processed incorrectly were denied with reason code 149 (“Doesn’t Meet Medicare NCD/LCD Criteria”). Medica has corrected the system error and will reprocess all affected claims. Providers should notice adjustments to such claims within 60 days.
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| Action: No action is required. Providers do not need to submit claim adjustment requests. |
| Date: 12/28/2009 |
| Description: Medica's Position on Consultation Codes |
Alert: Beginning with January 1, 2010, dates of service, consultation CPT codes 99241-99245 (for office/outpatient services) and 99251-99255 (for inpatient services) will become invalid for reimbursement related to Medica Medicare members. G-codes for telehealth consultation services will remain active and valid for Medicare members.
The consultation codes 99241-99245 and 99251-99255 will continue to be active and valid to report consultation services for Medica members in commercial (employer-based) and Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) products.
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| Action: No action is required. |
| Date: 12/04/2009 |
| Description: Limited Availability of Medica Electronic Transactions This Weekend |
Alert: Beginning late Friday, December 4, there will be limited availability of Electronic Transactions on medica.com due to scheduled maintenance related to the Medica Web site. As a result of this scheduled weekend update, Medica online transactions will only provide limited data such as member eligibility. Medica apologizes for any inconvenience.
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| Action: No action is required. |
| Date: 11/20/2009 |
| Description: Limited Availability of Medica Electronic Transactions This Weekend |
Alert: Beginning late Friday, November 20, there will be limited availability of Electronic Transactions on medica.com due to scheduled maintenance related to the Medica Web site. As a result of this scheduled weekend update, Medica online transactions will only provide limited data such as member eligibility. Medica apologizes for any inconvenience.
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| Action: No action is required. |
| Date: 11/12/2009 |
| Description: Limited Availability of Medica Electronic Transactions This Weekend |
Alert: Beginning Saturday afternoon, November 14, there will be limited availability of Electronic Transactions on medica.com due to scheduled maintenance related to the Medica Web site. As a result of this scheduled weekend update, Medica online transactions will only provide limited data such as member eligibility. Medica apologizes for any inconvenience.
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| Action: No action is required. |
| Date: 11/10/2009 |
| Description: CDC Antiviral Guidance and Health Advisory for H1N1 |
| Alert: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently published information for providers about H1N1 flu, as indicated below. The "Quick Facts" summary includes important information to clear up some common misconceptions about the timing and appropriate use of antiviral medications for H1N1. The CDC Health Alert notes that not all people recommended for antiviral treatment are getting treated, and provides facts for clinicians to consider when deciding whether a patient needs to be treated with antiviral medication. |
| Action: Refer to recent H1N1 details from the CDC:
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| Date: 10/30/2009 |
| Description: Cardiac Genetic Test to Require Prior Authorization |
| Alert: Beginning with December 1, 2009, dates of service, Medica will cover genetic testing for long QT syndrome (LQTS) using the Familion test. Prior authorization will be required. This change will apply to all Medica products including government products unless a particular health plan (whether commercial, Medicare or Medicaid) requires different coverage. Genetic testing for long QT syndrome using any genetic test other than the Familion test is considered investigative and therefore will not be covered. Genetic testing for all other cardiac channelopathies—including but not limited to Brugada syndrome, short QT syndrome and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia—also is considered investigative and therefore will not be covered. |
| Action: As of December 1, the complete text of the policy that applies to this determination will be available, under Utilization Management Policies. |
| Date: 10/29/2009 |
| Description: Reminder on Need for Blood Lead Testing of MHCP Child Patients |
Alert: The Minnesota Department of Health continues to emphasize blood lead tests for Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) children, and Medica is doing what it can to promote this important service. As a reminder, blood lead tests are an integral part of a complete Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) exam—And when a blood lead test is done as part of a complete exam, Medica reimburses providers an additional $102 (for code S0302). Lead testing is recommended at 12 and 24 months of age as part of C&TC exams during office visits, although blood lead tests can be done at 9-15 months of age for the year-one checkup and 16-30 months of age for the year-two checkup. Now that it's flu season, as MHCP children come in for other care, it may be a good opportunity for doctor's offices to test for lead poisoning. Blood lead testing may also be appropriate for older children, and providers are encouraged to do so as needed.
The State of Minnesota has outlined reasons for performing blood lead tests for MHCP children. According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, "Providers sometimes have questions about the necessity of doing lead testing. Lead testing is a federally required component of C&TC. Research indicates that Medicaid children are at greater risk of lead poisoning. Before any changes might be considered for this component, lead screening data needs to be collected over a period of years. Providers can assist this effort by performing lead testing at the appropriate ages so data which will drive future policy decisions can be gathered."
For more details from the State of Minnesota on blood lead testing, refer to:
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| Action: Providers are encouraged to conduct blood lead tests for MHCP child patients whenever appropriate. |
| Date: 10/27/2009 |
| Description: Revised Claim Adjustment and Appeals Forms Posted Online |
Alert: Medica has updated two claims forms to reflect community standards in Minnesota for claims submission, as determined by the Minnesota Administrative Uniformity Committee (AUC). The revised forms are:
- Claim Adjustment Request Form—(for non-Minnesota network providers) To be used when a non-Minnesota network provider has additional data that should have been submitted on the original claim or has a need to correct data that was sent incorrectly on the original claim. (Minnesota providers must follow the AUC guide for electronic submission of voided or replacement claims)
- Claim Appeal Request Form—(for all network providers) To be used when a network provider is requesting reconsideration of a previously adjudicated claim but there is no additional or corrected data to be submitted. Claim appeals need to be submitted within 180 days of the original claim's disallow date.
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| Action: Network providers should use these forms, as applicable, after submitting claims to Medica. Click on the names of the forms above to view them. |
| Date: 10/22/2009 |
| Description: Medica Expands Coverage for VEGF Inhibitor Antibody Treatment |
Alert: Effective with October 21, 2009, dates of service, Medica has expanded its coverage of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor antibody treatment for age-related macular degeneration to also include coverage for neovascular retinopathies, including diabetic retinopathy. This change applies for all Medica members. To reflect this coverage change, Medica has modified its related coverage policy, "Intravitreal Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Inhibitor Antibody Treatment for Neovascular Ocular Indications." For all other ocular indications, VEGF antibody treatment continues to be considered investigative and therefore remains not covered.
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| Action: As of November 1, 2009, providers can see the complete text of the coverage policy that applies to this determination, under Coverage Policies. |
| Date: 10/08/2009 |
| Description: Conference on Changing Patient Behavior Coming November 4 |
Alert: Providers are invited to gain new tools and insights to assess change readiness and promote self-care at a conference titled "Creating an Environment for Change: Moving Patients from Thinking to DOING." Learn how to make change the path of least resistance from keynote speaker Stacy Nelson, Ed.D., Vitalsmarts Senior Consultant for the national bestselling books Influencer and Crucial Conversations. This upcoming event is scheduled for November 4 and will be hosted by Fairview Physician Associates in partnership with Medica. The cost for the full-day conference is $45. The registration deadline is October 26.
Healthcare professionals often struggle to influence patients to lose weight, quit smoking, moderate alcohol consumption and get more exercise. But while healthcare professionals work to promote sustainable behavior change, they often lack a model and concrete tools for success. The conference next month will help address such challenges.
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| Action: Providers can learn more and register online.. |
| Date: 10/01/2009 |
| Description: Limited Availability of Medica Electronic Transactions This Weekend |
Alert: From Friday evening, October 2, to Sunday evening, October 4, there will be limited availability of Electronic Transactions on medica.com due to scheduled maintenance related to the Medica Web site. As a result of this scheduled weekend update, Medica online transactions will only provide limited data such as member eligibility. Medica apologizes for any inconvenience.
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| Action: No action is required. |
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The information in this section will give physicians and providers access to Reference Tools, Forms and Newsletters. Click on the Reference Tools & Forms link to find information regarding Coding, Forms, Points of Contact, Products, Administrative Forums, Provider Service Call Center, and Reference Tools. |
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