Remote monitoring payments
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Beginning July 10, physicians should submit claims to CMS for remote electronic analysis of pacemakers and ICDs using four CPT codes published by the American Medical Association in 2005. Medtronic, Guidant and St. Jude had lobbied the AMA to establish the codes, which Medtronic says simplify physician billing. Remote monitoring systems for implantable cardiac devices include Medtronic's Carelink, Boston Scientific's Latitude and St. Jude's HouseCall Plus, but reimbursement is currently limited (1"The Gray Sheet" June 12, 2006, p. 5)...
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Medicare News In Brief
Remote monitoring codes: CMS released new cardiac remote monitoring-specific codes and payment rates in the 2009 1physician fee schedule issued Oct. 30. The current procedural technology codes, recently created by the American Medical Association, will contribute to a more "stable payment environment" for remote monitoring, says David Blaszczak, an analyst with the Stanford Group. Physicians have faced challenges in getting reimbursed for time spent reviewing information collected via remote devices such as cardiac monitors in part due to the absence of specific codes. Among the new codes are two for "mobile cardiovascular telemetry" that directly impact monitoring products made by CardioNet. Medicare has previously established specific CPT codes for remote analysis of pacemaker and implantable defibrillator data (2"The Gray Sheet" June 19, 2006, In Brief)
House Legislation Would Require Medicare To Pay For Remote Monitoring
Legislation introduced into the House would provide incentives to physicians to increase their utilization of remote patient monitoring
Tech Alliance Seeks Standardized Framework For Electronic Device Network
A diverse group of technology and healthcare companies launched an alliance June 6 to seek a standardized framework for electronically transmitting healthcare information generated by products ranging from pacemakers to bathroom scales