CMS has released its updated manual for payment for oxygen volume adjustments and portable oxygen equipment. Change Request (CR) 9848, effective April 1 with implementation date April 3, provides instructions and a summary of changes for processing claims for oxygen and oxygen equipment under the Medicare Part B benefit for durable medical equipment.
The background provides information on when the fee schedule amount is increased based on conditions listed.
It also includes two informational modifiers to indicate the beneficiary has been prescribed high-liter flow oxygen and has a qualifying test on a minimum of 4 liters/minute.
- QF-used with portable equipment
- QG-used with stationary equipment
- When a patient has stationary and portable equipment, suppliers should bill both stationary (HCPCS E0424, E0439, E1390 or E1391) and portable (E0431, E0433. E0434, E1392 or K0738) using the QF modifier. The stationary unit will be paid at standard rates, and the portable equipment will be paid at the higher fee schedule rate of the volume adjustment (50 percent of stationary) or portable add-on rental rate. The QF modifier will require the portable oxygen to be billed in order to receive the maximum reimbursement rate under this new guidance.
- When a patient has only stationary equipment, suppliers should bill stationary (E0424, E0439, E1390 or E1391) using the QG modifier. The stationary unit will be paid at 150 percent of standard rates. The QG modifier is to be used for patients who have only stationary equipment. If this is guidance is not followed, the claim will be returned as unprocessable.