0050-Add-on Codes Paid without Primary Code and/or Denied Primary Code

Dynamic List Information
Dynamic List Data
Issue Name
0050-Add-on Codes Paid without Primary Code and/or Denied Primary Code
Review Type
Automated
Provider Type
Outpatient/Professional Services
MAC Jurisdiction
All A/B MACs
Date
2017-04-11
RAC Type
Approved

Description

CPT has designated certain codes as "add-on procedures". These services are always done in conjunction with another procedure and are only payable when an appropriate primary service is also billed.

Affected Code(s)

Add-on Codes: https://www.cms.gov/ncci-medicare/medicare-ncci-add-code-edits

Applicable Policy References

1.    Social Security Act (SSA), Title XVIII- Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)- Exclusions from Coverage and Medicare as a Secondary Payer
2.    Social Security Act (SSA), Title XVIII- Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled, Section 1833(e)- Payment of Benefits
3.    42 CFR §405.980- Reopening of Initial Determinations, Redeterminations, Reconsiderations, Decisions, and Reviews, (b)- Timeframes and Requirements for Reopening Initial Determinations and Redeterminations Initiated by a Contractor; and (c)- Timeframes and Requirements for Reopening Initial Determinations and Redeterminations Requested by a Party
4.    42 CFR §405.986- Good Cause for Reopening
5.    42 CFR §405.929- Post-Payment Review
6.    42 CFR §405.930- Failure to Respond to Additional Documentation Request
7.    Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12- Physicians/Nonphysician Practitioners, §30.D- Coding Services Supplemental to Principal Procedure (Add-On Codes) Code
8.    Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 1- General Billing Requirements, §70 Time Limitations for Filing Part A and Part B Claims
9.    Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12- Physicians/Nonphysician Practitioners, §30.6.7. F. Add-On Code for Office/Outpatient E/M Visit Complexity ; §40.1 Definition of a Global Surgical Package; §40.8- Claims for Co-Surgeons and Team Surgeons; §40.9- Procedures Billed With Two or More Surgical Modifiers
10.    Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 16- Laboratory Services, §40.8- Date of Service (DOS) for Clinical Laboratory and Pathology Specimens
11.    Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3- Verifying Potential Errors and Taking Corrective Actions, §§3.1- 3.6.6.
12.    Add-on Code Edits, as updated by CMS- https://www.cms.gov/ncci-medicare/medicare-ncci-add-code-edits 
13.    AMA CPT Codebook 
14.    HCPCS Level II Codebook