Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Screening Guidelines and CPT Code G0472

 

Screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in adults CPT CODE G0472 coved dx V69.8

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is an infection that attacks the liver and is a major cause of chronic liver disease. Inflammation over long periods of time (usually decades) can cause scarring, called cirrhosis. A cirrhotic liver fails to perform the normal functions of the liver which leads to liver failure. Cirrhotic livers are more prone to become cancerous and liver failure leads to serious complications, even death. HCV is reported to be the leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, and a primary indication for liver transplant in the Western World. Prior to June 2, 2014, CMS did not cover screening for HCV in adults. Pursuant to §1861(ddd) of the Social Security Act, CMS may add coverage of “additional preventive services” through the National Coverage Determination (NCD) process.

Effective June 2, 2014, CMS will cover screening for HCV with the appropriate U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved/cleared laboratory test (used consistently with FDA-approved labeling and in compliance with the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) regulations) and point-of-care tests (such as rapid anti-body tests that are performed in outpatient clinics and physician offices) when ordered by the beneficiary’s primary care physician or practitioner within the context of a primary care setting, and performed by an eligible Medicare provider for these services, for beneficiaries who meet either of the following conditions:

1.Adults at high risk for HCV infection. “High risk” is defined as persons with a current or past history of illicit injection drug use, and persons who have a history of receiving a blood transfusion prior to 1992. Repeat screening for high risk persons is covered annually only for persons who have had continued illicit injection drug use since the prior negative screening test.

2.Adults who do not meet the high risk definition as defined above, but who were born from 1945 through 1965. A single, once-in-a-lifetime screening test is covered for these individuals. The determination of “high risk for HCV” is identified by the primary care physician or practitioner who assesses the patient’s history, which is part of any complete medical history, typically part of an annual wellness visit and considered in the development of a comprehensive prevention plan. The medical record should be a reflection of the service provided.

General Claims Processing Requirements for Claims with Dates of Service on and After June 2, 2014:
1. New HCPCS G0472, short descriptor - Hep C screen high risk/other and long descriptor- Hepatitis C antibody screening for individual at high risk and other covered indication(s), will be used. HCPCS G0472 will appear in the January 2016 recurring updates of the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) and the Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (IOCE) with a June 2, 2014, effective date. MACs shall apply contractor pricing to claims with dates of service June 2, 2014, through December 31, 015, that contain HCPCS G0472. MACs will not automatically adjust claims that may be processed in error, but will adjust such claims that you bring to their attention.
2.Beneficiary coinsurance and deductibles do not apply to HCPCS G0472.
3.For services provided to beneficiaries born between the years 1945 and 1965 who are not considered high risk, HCV screening is limited to once per lifetime, claims shall be submitted with:
•HCPCS G0472.
4.For those determined to be high-risk initially, claims must be submitted with:
•HCPCS G0472; and
•ICD-9 diagnosis code V69.8, other problems related to life style/ICD-10 diagnosis code Z72.89, other problems related to lifestyle (once ICD-10 is implemented).
5.Screening may occur on an annual basis if appropriate, as defined in the policy. Claims for adults at high risk who have had continued illicit injection drug use since the prior negative screening shall be submitted with:
•HCPCS G0472;
•ICD diagnosis code V69.8/Z72.89; and
•ICD diagnosis code 304.91, unspecified drug dependence, continuous/F19.20, other psychoactive substance abuse, uncomplicated (once ICD-10 is implemented).
NOTE: Annual is defined as 11 full months must pass following the month of the last negative HCV screening.

Institutional Billing Requirements
Effective for claims with dates of service on and after June 2, 2014, institutional providers may use types of bill (TOB) 13X, 71X, 77X, and 85X when submitting claims for HCV screening, HCPCS G0472. Medicare will deny G0472 service line-items on other TOBs using the following messages:
•Claim Adjustment Reason Code (CARC) 170 -Payment denied when performed/billed  by this type of provider. Note: Refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment Information REF), if present.
•Remittance Advice Remarks Code (RARC) N95 - This provider type/provider specialty may not bill this service.
•Group Code CO (contractual obligation) – If claim received without a GZ modifier. The service is paid on the following basis:
•Outpatient hospitals – TOB 13X - based on the Outpatient Prospective Payment System.
•Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)- TOB 71X - and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) - 77X - For RHCs and FQHCs that are authorized to bill under the All-Inclusive Rate (AIR) system, payment for the professional component is included in the AIR. For FQHCs authorized to bill under the FQHC Prospective Payment System (PPS), payment for the professional component is included in the FQHC PPS rate. HCV screening is not a stand-alone payable visit for RHCs and FQHCs.
•Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) - TOB 85X – based on reasonable cost; and
•CAH Method II – TOB 85X - based on 115 percent of the lesser of the MPFS amount or actual charge as applicable with revenue codes 096X, 097X, or 098X.

Note: Separate guidance shall be issued for FQHCs that are authorized to bill under the prospective payment system.

Professional Billing Requirements
For professional claims with dates of service on or after June 2, 2014, CMS will allow coverage for HCPCS G0472, only when services are submitted by the following provider specialties found on the provider’s enrollment record:
01 - General Practice
08 - Family Practice
11 - Internal Medicine
16 - Obstetrics/Gynecology
37 - Pediatric Medicine
38 - Geriatric Medicine
42 - Certified Nurse Midwife
50 - Nurse Practitioner
89 - Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist
97 - Physician Assistant
Medicare will deny claims submitted for these services by providers other than the specialty types noted above. When denying such claims, Medicare will use the following messages:
•CARC 184 - The prescribing/ordering provider is not eligible to prescribe/order the service.
NOTE: Refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment Information REF), if present.
•RARC N574 - Our records indicate the ordering/referring provider is of a type/specialty that cannot order/refer. Please verify that the claim ordering/referring information is accurate or contact the ordering/referring provider.
•Group Code CO if claim received without GZ modifier.

For professional claims with dates of service on or after June 2, 2014, CMS will allow coverage for HCV screening, HCPCS G0472, only when submitted with one of the following place of service (POS) codes:
11 - Physician’s Office
22 - Outpatient Hospital
49 - Independent Clinic
71 - State or Local Public Health Clinic
81 - Independent Laboratory
Medicare will deny claims submitted without one of the POS codes noted above with the following messages:
•CARC 171 - Payment denied when performed by this type of provider in this type of facility.
Note: Refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment Information REF), if present.
•RARC N428 - Not covered when performed in this place of service.
•Group Code – CO if claim received without GZ modifier.

Other Billing Information for Both Professional and Institutional Claims
On both institutional and professional claims, Medicare will deny claims line-items for HCPCS G0472 with dates of service on or after June 2, 2014, where it is reported more than once-in-a-lifetime for beneficiaries born from1945 through 1965 and who are not high risk. Medicare will also line-item deny when more than one HCV screening is billed for the same high-risk beneficiary prior to their annual eligibility criteria being met. In denying these claims, Medicare will use:
•CARC 119 - Benefit maximum for this time period or occurrence has been reached.
•RARC N386 - This decision was based on a National Coverage Determination (NCD).
An NCD provides a coverage determination as to whether a particular item or service is covered. A copy of this policy is available at www.cms.gov/mcd/search.asp on the CMS website. If you do not have web access, you may contact the contractor to request a copy of the NCD.
•Group Code - CO if claim received without GZ modifier.

When applying the annual frequency limitation, MACs will allow both a claim for a professional service and a claim for a facility fee.

In addition, remember that the initial HCV screening for beneficiaries at high risk must also contain ICD-9 diagnosis code V69.8 (ICD-10 code Z72.89 once ICD-10 is implemented).

Then, for the subsequent annual screenings for high risk beneficiaries, you must include ICD-9 code V69.8 and 304.91 (ICD-10 of Z72.89 and F19.20 once ICD-10 is implemented). Failure to include the diagnosis code(s) for high risk beneficiaries will result in denial of the line item. In denying thes
e payments, Medicare will use the following:
•CARC 119 - Benefit maximum for this time period or occurrence has been reached. (for initial high risk screening), or,
•CARC 167 - This (these) diagnosis(es) is (are) not covered. Note: Refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment Information REF), if present. (for subsequent annual high risk screening)
•RARC N386 - This decision was based on a National Coverage Determination (NCD). An NCD provides a coverage determination as to whether a particular item or service is covered. A copy of this policy is available at www.cms.gov/mcd/search.asp on the CMS website. If you do not have web access, you may contact the contractor to request a copy of the NCD.
•Group Code CO if claim received without GZ modifier.
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