Instruction
In Chapter 9, you will learn that Medicare DOES NOT cover all medical services. That is why many retirees and others who are eligible for Medicare before retirement, often take out separate Medicare Supplement plans that help cover the portion of medical bills that Medicare does not cover.
Working a a very large hospital system, it often amazes me that physicians offices that send their patients to us for medical services are ignorant of the fact that Medicare patients still have to meet Medicare's medical necessity criteria to ensure Medicare (the CMS) will pay for the medical services given to patient.
In this assignment, go to www.cms.gov and in the top right on their home page, type in "NCD" and then hit the search button right next to it.
You will see many news and NCD policy items listed.
1) Choose ONE National Coverage Determination news item that pertains to a specific condition (e.g Lose Dose Lung Cancer Screening) . Explain briefly what the Medicare NCD policy is, and what criteria apply to it. In this example, there are age restrictions and specific criteria regards smoking history. Write one detailed paragraph explaining the policy.
2) Chapter 9 explains excluded services and medical services that are not medically necessary. Explain what you think happens when a hospital or doctor's office performs a medical service that Medicare does NOT cover?
3) Explain what a mandatory ABN is?