decisionhealth Newsletters, Coder Pink Sheets - 2004 Issue 5 (May)
Criteria for Purchased Diagnostic Tests
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Article Overview
This article covers Medicare’s criteria for purchased diagnostic tests and the compliance issues that can arise when practices bill for diagnostic services. It summarizes CMS guidance for carriers, discusses the role of the treating practitioner and physician supervision, and highlights concern about arrangements that may be viewed as attempts to circumvent Medicare rules. The piece is relevant to physicians, billing staff, compliance professionals, and practices that perform or purchase diagnostic testing services.
Why This Topic Matters
Understanding Medicare’s requirements for diagnostic test ordering and supervision helps practices avoid billing problems and compliance risk when working with purchased tests or outsourced diagnostic arrangements. The article also signals when a diagnostic testing setup may merit closer review by payers or compliance teams.
What You Will Learn
- How Medicare frames the basic requirements for purchased diagnostic tests
- Why supervision and ordering relationships matter for diagnostic testing claims
- What kinds of diagnostic testing arrangements may draw Medicare scrutiny
- How CMS guidance may affect practices that use outside diagnostic testing resources
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Medical practice administrators
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Compliance officers
- Diagnostic testing facilities
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