Category: NY Providers

Find Medical Billing and Coding guidance for any Providers that operate in NY State

Posted in #reimbursement, HealthFirst, NY Providers, Payer Updates, Payers and CPT reinbursement, Training

HealthFirst Telehealth mental health modifier update

Posted on by KR2Medical Billing

This update applies to HealthFirst following plan types: Medicaid, Personal Wellness Plan (HARP), and Medicaid Advantage.

Which services are affected?

Telehealth services done through a NY OMH licensed and or designated outpatient program.

Please refer to OMH modifier and rate code chart here.

Image via NYS OMH

To ensure the providers receive proper reimbursement, please make sure you go over payment rate changes and use the proper modifiers:

Modifier FQ- used for outpatient telehealth services, audio-only, for dual enrolled members.

Modofier 93- OMH providers – use this modifier for qualifying telehealth and audio-only mental health services, for members that are only enrolled in Medicaid.

The changes apply to the services performed on or after July 1st 2025.

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Posted in #aetna, #Medicareadvantage, #reimbursement, NY Providers, Prior Authorization Insurance Carrier Updates, Training

Aetna Medicare Advantage: reminder- certain post acute, skilled nursing and home health require pre- approval

Posted on by KR2Medical Billing

This change applies to the providers located in the following states:

NJ, NY, PA, VW

The pre-apporoval applies to some post-acute , skilled nursing, and home health services.

The following HCPCS are affected:

  • G0151: Services performed by a qualified physical therapist in the home health or hospice setting, each 15 minutes.
  • G0153: Services performed by a qualified speech-language pathologist in the home health or hospice setting, each 15 minutes.
  • G0155: Services of a clinical social worker in home health or hospice settings, each 15 minutes. 
  • All the codes until G0162

As well as the following codes:

G0299- Direct skilled nursing services of a Registered Nurse (RN) in the home health or hospice setting, each 15 minutes.

G0300-Direct skilled nursing services of a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the home health or hospice setting, each 15 minutes.

G0463- Skilled services by a Registered Nurse (RN) for observing and assessing a patient’s condition.

G0496- Skilled services by a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for training or educating a patient or family member.

Inpatient Revenue code:

128- daily medical management, skilled rehab services, and regular physician (MD/NP/PA) oversight for intensive rehab patients

Skilled Nursing levels: 1,2,3,4.

Pre-auth process:

1. Go to EviCore.

2.Call 1-888-622-7329 during normal business hours.

3.Fax a request form to 866-705-3574 (Aetna Home Health), 855-633-8631 (AETNA PAC Initial) or 877- 502-0810 (AETNA PAC Concurrent)

For any urgent requess, when  member requires services in less than 48 hours, please call eviCore.

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Posted in #Medicareadvantage, #reimbursement, MVP (NY/VT) Insurance Payer, NY Providers, Payer Updates, Payers and CPT reinbursement, Training, Updates

Oral-Only Phosphate Binders reimbursement- MVP Medicaid, HARP plans

Posted on by KR2Medical Billing

To align with NYS Medicaid ESRD reimbursement for oral-only phosphate binders- MVP will include the reimbursement in the newly aligned Dialysis center APG reimbursement. Effective for any DOS 1/1/2026.

Higlights:

  1. Oral only Phosphate binders for ESRD members no longer will be dispensed through the pharmacy NYRx benefit
  2. The Phosphate binders will be dispensed by the dialysis center
  3. Reimbursement- no separate reimbursement will be made for oral only phosphate binders instead it is included in the new APG dialysis rate
  4. Dialysis centers should not bill a separate claim for these phosphate binders (ESRD patients)
  5. Oral only phosphate binders affected by this change: sevelamer carbonate, lanthanum carbonate, sucroferric oxyhydroxide, and ferric citrate.

NYS APG rate:

The FFS APG weight for APG 168 (dialysis) has increased from 1.3651 to 1.5302. 

For the NYS Medicaid announcement click here .

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