As providers of Medicare services, nursing homes rely heavily on the timely and accurate reimbursement from the government to ensure the provision of top-quality care to their residents. The negative financial implications of claim rejections due to inaccurate provider enrollment cannot be overstated, as nursing homes risk losing millions of dollars, leading to their financial instability and, subsequently, their ability to provide quality care.
Beginning April 1st, 2023, a claim with any invalid or inaccurate provider information will be rejected for all services for the entire month. This new regulation further emphasizes the need for nursing homes to prioritize accurate provider enrollment, as even minor errors such as misspelled names or outdated addresses can lead to costly claim denials, which can result in significant revenue losses and cash flow issues.
The consequences of these denials on nursing homes can be far-reaching, as they heavily rely on Medicare reimbursements to maintain their operations and ensure that their residents receive adequate care. Claim rejections can lead to significant financial losses, impairing the nursing homes’ ability to meet financial obligations and purchase necessary supplies.
Moreover, correcting inaccuracies in the enrollment information can be a complex and expensive process that can take up valuable time and resources. This often leads to nursing home staff being pulled away from their core duty of providing care to residents, further exacerbating the situation.
Thus, nursing homes must prioritize accurate provider enrollment by working with experts, such as Streamline Verify, to ensure that their provider information remains up-to-date in the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS). Through this, nursing homes can avoid costly claim rejections and concentrate on providing the best possible care to their residents.
Furthermore, it is important to note that effective April 1, 2023, Medicare systems will edit institutional claims to ensure that institutional providers do not use any organizational National Provider Identifier (NPI) in the Attending Provider NPI Data Element, except under specific exceptions. Institutional providers must indicate the Attending Provider Name and Identifiers for the patient’s medical care and treatment on institutional claims for any services other than nonscheduled transportation claims. Additionally, on outpatient claims, institutional providers must send the Referring Provider NPI and name when the Referring Provider for the services is different from the Attending Provider.
It is crucial for healthcare compliance officers to stay informed of these new regulations and work with their team to ensure that their organization is compliant. Failure to do so can lead to significant revenue losses, cash flow issues, and difficulty in providing quality care to patients.
