2021 MO HealthNet Provider Hot Tips
The MO HealthNet Division publishes Hot Tips to supply information to clarify and assist in receiving timely reimbursement for services provided and claims disposition.
MO HealthNet has developed an index for historical and ongoing Hot Tips and a COVID-19 index for associated Hot Tips. The non-COVID-19 index location has not moved; it is also located below for quick reference. Please share these Hot Tips with your billing staff.
Hot Tip Indices
2021 Provider Tips Index
- Diabetes Prevention Program Services for Adults
- Leukotriene Inhibitor Edit Change
- High Risk Therapies Clinical Edit
- HMS Hospital/Long Term Care Audits and Commercial Insurance Disallowance Audits
- Billing for Behavioral Health Services for Dual Eligible Participants Performed by Non-Medicare Covered Practitioners
- Correct Address for Mailing Paper Dental Claim Forms
- COVID-19: COVID Testing and Specimen Collection Codes – REVISED
- Quantity Prescribed Requirement
- Pharmacy Early Refill
- COVID-19: Radiology (Diagnosis Codes Added effective January 1, 2021)
- Logisticare Solutions, LLC Changes Name to ModivCare Solutions, LLC
- COVID-19: COVID-19 Testing for participants with Extended/Uninsured Women´s Health Services
Diabetes Prevention Program Services for Adults
June 21, 2021
On September 1, 2020, the MO HealthNet Division (MHD) implemented a Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for eligible adult participants.
These services are Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized DPP services for at risk individuals, intended to prevent Type-2 Diabetes or delay the progression. DPP services are provided during sessions that occur at regular periodic intervals over the course of one year, and, if eligible based upon individual measurable health-outcomes, additional ongoing maintenance sessions at regular, periodic intervals for another year. At these sessions, DPP services include ongoing nutrition or behavioral counseling focusing on weight reduction and lifestyle changes and physical activity and fitness assessments.
More information about the DPP program can be found in Section 13.73 of the Physician’s Manual found on our website at: http://manuals.momed.com/collections/collection_phy/print.pdf.
If you are already an enrolled provider and would like to participate in this new program to provide DPP services and have the proper CDC recognition status, you will need an additional provider number to bill for these services (Provider Type 37).
The link to complete the electronic application is:
https://peu.momed.com/peu//momed/presentation/commongui/PeHome.jsp
Any questions regarding enrollment should be emailed to: MMAC.ProviderEnrollment@dss.mo.gov
Leukotriene Inhibitor Edit Change
June 2, 2021
Effective July 1, 2021 MO HealthNet will require a manual review of montelukast prescriptions for MO HealthNet participants by the pharmacy helpdesk when prescribed to participants with a history of suicidal thoughts, suicidal actions, and history of neuropsychiatric events. This change is due to the addition of the black box warning in the montelukast label (FDA Announcement). Health care professionals should consider the risks and benefits of montelukast when deciding to prescribe or continue patients on the medicine. Counsel all patients receiving montelukast about mental health side effects, and advise them to stop the medicine and contact a health care professional immediately if they develop any symptoms including but not limited to those listed in the FDA Announcement link above. Be aware that some patients have reported neuropsychiatric events after discontinuation of montelukast.
High Risk Therapies Clinical Edit
May 17, 2021
On April 15, 2021 MO HealthNet introduced a new High Risk Therapies Clinical Edit for patients receiving concurrent opioids and benzodiazepines.
The combination of opioids and benzodiazepines is considered a high risk therapy as both drugs cause sedation, impaired cognitive function, and respiratory depression potentially leading to an overdose death. Unfortunately, many patients are still prescribed this high risk therapy combination. In 2015, 23% of persons dying due to opioid overdoses also tested positive for benzodiazepines. Also, the number of patients prescribed both an opioid and a benzodiazepine increased by 41% between 2002 and 2014. In March 2016, the CDC released their Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain; further clarification of these guidelines was published in April 2019. These guidelines recommend avoiding the prescribing of benzodiazepines concurrently with opioids whenever possible. Also, both opioids and benzodiazepine prescription products now carry a boxed warning from the FDA highlighting the danger of using these agents together.
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression. Pharmacists in Missouri are able to dispense naloxone according to the statewide standing order or upon presentation of a valid prescription. As part of the efforts to protect participants from the possible adverse effects of combining opioid and benzodiazepine medications, MO HealthNet will impose clinical criteria to require the presence of an opioid emergency reversal agent, such as naloxone, when these agents are used concomitantly.
The current statewide standing order is available at: https://health.mo.gov/data/opioids/pdf/naloxone-standing-order.pdf
The current High Risk Therapies Clinical Edit is available at: https://dss.mo.gov/mhd/cs/pharmacy/pdf/high-risk-therapies-clinical.pdf
HMS Hospital/Long Term Care Audits and Commercial Insurance Disallowance Audits
April 27, 2021
MO HealthNet (MHD) and Missouri Medicaid Audit and Compliance (MMAC) are contracted with Health Management Systems (HMS) to conduct post payment reviews of claims for Hospital and Long Term Care facility Credit Balance Audits and the Commercial Insurance Disallowance Audit Cycles.
MO HealthNet is the payer of last resort with all other insurances being primary to Medicaid. The Long Term Care Audits and Hospital Credit Balance Audits are designed to assist providers in identifying when another insurer has paid and Medicaid is due a refund due to a coordination of benefits billing error.
The Commercial Insurance Disallowance Cycles are post payment reviews conducted by HMS to identify Liable Third Party resources that should have been billed prior to MO HealthNet. HMS conducts a data match between the MO HealthNet participant eligibility data and the information they receive from the Commercial Carriers to identify insurers that may have been unknown to the provider at the time of service. As part of Medicaid reclamation, the provider is instructed to bill the commercial plan identified for payment of the claim. The Commercial Insurance Disallowance Audit Cycles are conducted every 90 days for medical and pharmacy claims.
HMS, acting on behalf of MMAC/MHD, has been instructed to send all audit notices via mail to the providers address on record with MMAC. MO HealthNet provider’s should ensure HMS audit notices are being routed to the correct person or office within their organization.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about this update, please contact MMAC/HMS Audits at 573-751-3399 OR Via Email at MMAC.Financial@dss.mo.gov
MO HealthNet providers can verify their addresses on file by sending an email to MMAC.ProviderEnrollment@dss.mo.gov
Billing for Behavioral Health Services for Dual Eligible Participants Performed by Non-Medicare Covered Practitioners
April 22, 2021
When a participant has both Medicare and MO HealthNet coverage, a claim must be filed with Medicare first. However, MO HealthNet enrolls the following practitioners that Medicare does not cover:
- licensed or provisional licensed professional counselors
- licensed or provisional licensed marital and family therapists
- provisional licensed psychologists
- licensed master social workers
Therefore, claims for services rendered by one of the above practitioners to participants who are dual eligible (Medicare and MO HealthNet) are not required to be filed with Medicare prior to submission to MO HealthNet or to the participant’s MO HealthNet Managed Care Plan.
Impacted claims with dates of services beginning July 1, 2018 have been recycled.
Correct Address for Mailing Paper Dental Claim Forms
April 12, 2021
MO HealthNet dental providers submitting paper dental claim forms for MO HealthNet fee-for-service participants, must mail claims to:
Wipro Infocrossing
P.O. Box 5600
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Paper claims sent to any other address will not be processed for payment. For additional information, reference Section 15.7 of the Dental Manual at http://manuals.momed.com/manuals/.
COVID-19: COVID Testing and Specimen Collection Codes – REVISED
March 24, 2021
The MO HealthNet Division (MHD) is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. The virus has been named "SARS-CoV-2" and the disease it causes has been named "coronavirus disease 2019" (abbreviated "COVID-19").
MHD continues to monitor the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance related to COVID-19 testing and specimen collection. The tables below list the COVID-19 testing and specimen collection procedure codes MO HealthNet currently covers as well as who can bill each code, effective dates, max units, and rates.
Effective for dates of service on or after March 1, 2020, and through the end of the public health emergency, claims submitted by independent laboratories for COVID-19 testing will not require a referring physician. Providers that perform other laboratory services on the same date as the COVID-19 test must bill for the COVID-19 test on a separate claim in order to be reimbursed. MO HealthNet will recycle all claims submitted by independent laboratories for COVID-19 tests that did not include a referring provider.
Effective for dates of service on or after January 1, 2021, pharmacists and pharmacies are included in the providers that can bill COVID-19 testing codes.
Effective for dates of service on or after January 1, 2021, providers can bill COVID-19 testing code U0005 in addition to either HCPCS code U0003 or U0004 only after receiving results within two calendar days from date and time of specimen collection.
COVID-19 Testing Codes |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Code |
Description |
Who can bill this code? |
Effective with dates of service on or after: |
Max Units |
Rate |
U0001 |
CDC 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) real-time rt-pcr diagnostic panel |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
02/01/2020 |
2 |
$36.00 |
U0002 |
2019-nCoV Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV (COVID-19) using any technique, multiple types or subtypes (includes all targets) |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
02/01/2020 |
2 |
$51.00 |
87635 |
Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
03/13/2020 |
2 |
$51.00 |
86328 |
Immunoassay for infectious agent antibody(ies), qualitative or semiquantitative, single step method (e.g., reagent strip); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]). |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
04/10/2020 |
3 |
$45.23 |
86769 |
Antibody; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]). |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
04/10/2020 |
3 |
$42.13 |
87426 |
Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay technique, (eg, enzyme immunoassay [EIA], enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], immunochemiluminometric assay [IMCA]) qualitative or semiquantitative, multiple-step method; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (eg, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 [COVID-19]). |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
01/25/2021 |
3 |
$45.23 $35.33 |
86408 |
Neutralizing antibody, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]); screen |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
08/10/2020 |
1 |
$42.13 |
86409 |
Neutralizing antibody, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]); titer |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
08/10/2020 |
1 |
$79.61 |
86413 |
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), antibody, quantitative |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
09/08/2020 |
3 |
$51.43 |
87636 |
Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) and influenza virus types A and B, multiplex amplified probe technique |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
10/06/2020 |
3 |
$142.63 |
87637 |
Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), influenza virus types A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus, multiplex amplified probe technique |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
10/06/2020 |
3 |
$142.63 |
87811 |
Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay with direct optical (ie, visual) observation; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
10/06/2020 |
3 |
$41.38 |
87428 |
Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay technique, (eg, enzyme immunoassay [EIA], enzymelinked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], immunochemiluminometric assay [IMCA]) qualitative or semiquantitative; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (eg, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 [COVID-19]) and influenza virus types A and B |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
11/10/2020 |
1 |
$63.59 |
U0003 |
Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique, making use of high throughput technologies as described by CMS-2020-01-R. |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
03/18/2020 – 12/31/2020 01/01/2021 |
2 |
$100.00 $75 |
U0004 |
2019-nCoV Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV (COVID-19), any technique, multiple types or subtypes (includes all targets), non-CDC, making use of high throughput technologies as described by CMS-2020-01-R. |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
03/18/2020 – 12/31/2020 01/01/2021 |
2 |
$100.00 $75 |
U0005 |
Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), amplified probe technique, CDC or non-CDC, making use of high throughput technologies, completed within two calendar days from date and time of specimen collection. |
Providers with the appropriate CLIA Certificate type for the test |
01/01/2021 |
1 |
$25 |
| COVID-19 Specimen Collection Codes |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Code |
Description |
Who can bill this code? |
Effective with dates of service on or after: |
Max Units |
Rate |
99211 |
Medicare suggests using the Level 1 evaluation and management code for assessment and specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2) (coronavirus disease [covid-19]), any specimen source |
Physician office |
03/01/2020 |
1 |
$15.31 |
C9803 |
Hospital outpatient clinic visit specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2) (coronavirus disease [covid-19]), any specimen source |
Hospital outpatient department |
03/01/2020 |
1 |
Percent of billed charges |
G2023 |
Specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2) (coronavirus disease [covid-19]), any specimen source |
Independent Laboratories |
03/01/2020 |
1 |
$23.46 |
G2024 |
Specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), from an individual in a skilled nursing facility or by a laboratory on behalf of a home health agency, any specimen source |
Independent Laboratories |
03/01/2020 |
1 |
$25.46 |
Quantity Prescribed Requirement
February 24, 2021
The final rule CMS-0055-F from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requires the reporting of the NCPDP Quantity Prescribed (460-ET) field for all Schedule II drugs on pharmacy claims as of September 21, 2020.
The MO HealthNet Division (MHD) completed system work to deny claims if the NCPDP Quantity Prescribed (460-ET) field is not populated for Schedule II drugs. Claims will deny with a reject code of ET - M/I Quantity Prescribed if the field is blank, has all zeros, or is missing. Pharmacies should work with their software vendors to capture the mandatory NCPDP Quantity Prescribed (460-ET) field on all Schedule II drug claims.
Pharmacy Early Refill
February 18, 2021
Effective February 18, 2021, MO HealthNet is changing the early refill policy for medications to 85% for controlled and non-controlled substances. Providers may contact the Pharmacy Help Desk at (800) 392-8030 option 3 if overrides are needed.
COVID-19: Radiology (Diagnosis Codes Added effective January 1, 2021)
January 19, 2021
The MO HealthNet Division (MHD) is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. The virus has been named "SARS-CoV-2" and the disease it causes has been named "coronavirus disease 2019" (abbreviated "COVID-19").
As posted in the 05/21/2020 hot tip, effective with dates of service on or after March 1, 2020 providers do not need to obtain prior authorization for Chest CT Scan HCPCS codes 71250, 71260, and 71270 when the following COVID-19 related diagnosis codes are present: B34.2, B97.29, J12.89, J20.8, J22, J40, J80, J96.00, J96.01, J96.02, J96.20, J96.21, J96.22, J98.8, P22.0, P28.5, R05, R06.02, R09.02, R50.9, Z03.818, Z09, Z20.828, and Z86.19. Effective January 1, 2021 the following COVID-19 related diagnosis codes have been added: Z11.52, Z20.822, Z86.16, M35.81, M35.89 and J12.82. The MHD will continue to waive the co-payment for these procedures.
Prior authorizations for ALL procedures managed by the MHD’s Radiology Benefit Manager (RBM) will be approved for 90 days during the COVID-19 crisis. The list of procedures the RBM manages can be found here: https://www.healthhelp.com/wpcontent/uploads/MOHTN_PROCCODES.pdf
This Hot Tip also applies to providers that are contracted with the Managed Care Organizations.
Logisticare Solutions, LLC Changes Name to ModivCare Solutions, LLC
January 13, 2021
Effective January 6, 2021, MO HealthNet’s Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) vendor for fee-for-service participants changed its name from LogistiCare Solutions, LLC to ModivCare Solutions, LLC as part of a company rebranding initiative. Modiv is Latin for “way”, and reflects the company’s desire to lead innovation and change in terms of how people connect to care. The new name will not change any of the services provided.
Other changes as part of the rebrand include:
- Company logo and colors
- The way staff answers the phone - for members’ consideration, staff will answer the phone as ModivCare, formerly LogistiCare, for 12 months following the transition.
- Company website - for members’ consideration, the website will reference ModivCare, formerly LogistiCare, for 12 months following the transition.
What is not changing as part of the rebrand:
- Phone numbers and the way clients, members, facilities and transportation providers contact them.
- Their staff will remain the same.
- The way members book their rides online – members will continue to use the same links to schedule their rides as they have been.
ModivCare’s purpose of this rebrand is to shift toward becoming a tech-enabled, value-based healthcare company that will translate into better member experience that delivers consistent, positive healthcare outcomes and leads the industry into a new era.
COVID-19: COVID-19 Testing for participants with Extended/Uninsured Women’s Health Services
January 12, 2021
The MO HealthNet Division is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. The virus has been named "SARS-CoV-2" and the disease it causes has been named "coronavirus disease 2019" (abbreviated "COVID-19").
Effective for dates of service on or after March 1, 2020, and through the end of the public health emergency, MO HealthNet will cover COVID-19 testing for participants with Extended/Uninsured Women’s Health Services benefits. Providers who perform other services on the same date as the COVID-19 test for these participants must bill for the COVID-19 tests on a separate claim in order to be reimbursed.