By Donna Youngblood, RN, BSN, CPC
In April 2018, CMS released their latest drafts of DMEPOS templates and suggested Clinical Data Elements (CDE) for clinical providers. These templates provide all required elements CMS is looking for related to coverage criteria and standard documentation requirements. These templates include orders, lab test results and face to face encounter notes. Templates/CDEs includes are home blood glucose monitors, home oxygen therapy, PAP, ventilators, respiratory assistive devices (RAD), external infusion pumps, nebulizers, immunosuppressive drugs, enteral nutrition therapy, parenteral nutritional therapy, diabetic shoes, lower limb prosthesis (LLP), and power mobility devices (PMD). The templates and CDEs are voluntary/optional and not required by CMS.
CMS developed these templates in an attempt to decrease high improper payment rates of certain DMEPOS. Use of these templates/CDEs will allow clinicians to include pertinent information within the order/progress note to meet coverage criteria listed in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) and ultimately decrease denials. DMEPOS suppliers with referral sources that lack this required documentation will find these templates helpful when providing education to those referrals.
The link below provides you with a list of all DMEPOS draft templates and CDEs. Also included on this website are appendices that provides a summary of coverage criteria information that should be documented within the medical record.