WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 27, 2018)—CMS issued guidance titled "Billing Instruction—Oxygen CMN Question 5" on February 15, 2018, requiring suppliers to obtain revised oxygen CMNs for all patients that had different liter flows of oxygen in a 24-hour period effective April 1, 2018. The guidance required the industry to tell prescribers to not answer Question 5 of the CMN as stated on the form. In other words, a prescriber was to enter the average of the liter flows and not the highest liter flow. AAHomecare immediately took action by reaching out to various departments within CMS and DME MACs to express our concerns with the guidance on suppliers instructing prescribers on how to complete the CMN as this is specifically not allowed. In addition to sharing these concerns, AAHomecare also highlighted the burdens associated with requiring suppliers to create tens of thousands of revised CMNs that would not have any impact on payments.
Yesterday, the DME MACs announced the guidance on retrieving a revised CMN is being rescinded. AAHomecare appreciates CMS and the DME MACs listening to concerns and rescinding the requirement. This is an example of the excellent working relations the industry has built with CMS and contractors to resolve issues that significantly impact suppliers.
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