New Medicare Rules Impact Claims
Last month President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which has resulted in some important changes to Medicare rules. CMS has announced two immediate changes that may impact your practice:

Time Limit for Submitting Claims: Medicare fee-for-service claims with dates of service on or after January 1, 2010, must now be submitted within one calendar year of the date of service. Claims with dates of service between October 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 must be filed by December 31, 2010. 

Extension of Therapy Cap Exceptions Process: Extends the exceptions process for outpatient therapy caps through December 31, 2010. Under the exceptions process, Medicare will continue to pay for therapy services in excess of the cap if the services are deemed to be medically necessary. Outpatient therapy service providers may continue to submit claims with the KX modifier, when an exception is appropriate, for services furnished from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010.  The therapy caps are $1,860 for physical therapy and speech language pathology combined and $1,860 for occupational therapy in 2010.  Deductible and coinsurance amounts applied to therapy services count toward the cap.