You’ve heard correctly! While Medicare billing has not traditionally accounted for a large portion of CBO revenue, and few CBOs have had mechanisms in place to tap into this payment stream, that is changing rapidly as new Medicare codes and a proliferation of value-based payment reforms are incentivizing the kinds of preventative and community-support services CBOs provide. These new policy developments have opened up opportunities for CBOs to more fully integrate with the health care sector—and get paid in the process. Please see below for a high-level overview of issues related to CBOs and Medicare.
- Most of the current CBO Medicare reimbursement opportunities are available under Medicare Part B, which covers physician services, office visits, screenings, therapies, preventative care, and other outpatient services. Learn more about Medicare Part B on Medicare.gov.
- A Medicare Provider number is the key to being able to bill for services. A CBO can either go through the process to obtain its own Medicare Provider number to bill directly for some services or partner with an existing provider that has its own Medicare number to receive reimbursement. Different benefits have different rules for who exactly can bill Medicare directly. Learn more about whether becoming a Medicare provider is right for your CBO in the Business Institute’s Becoming a Medicare Fee-For-Service Provider: What CBOs Need to Know
- Currently, most of the Medicare billing for CBOs is centered around self-management, health and wellness promotion programs, care transitions, and well as care management services. There are a number of Medicare Part B benefits that can be offered to obtain reimbursement for Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) programs by billing Medicare directly. However, it is important to note that for the Chronic Care Management (CCM) and Complex Chronic Care Management (Complex CCM) services described below, a CBO cannot bill Medicare directly. They must partner with a physician or an eligible non-physician practitionerwho can submit bills to Medicare for reimbursement.
Below are the benefits most commonly furnished by CBOs, along with their corresponding billing codes. (Note: CPT codes stand for Current Procedural Terminology codes. CPT codes are a set of medical billing codes that are developed and owned by the American Medical Association.)
Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT)
- Diabetes Self-Management Training Tip Sheet for Medicare Accreditation and Reimbursement (produced by the National Council on Aging)
- For DSMT provided to an individual G0108
- For DSMT provided in a group setting G0109
Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)
- Tip Sheet Medical Nutrition Therapy (produced by the National Council on Aging)
- For MNT provided to an individual 97802
- For MNT provided to an individual 97804
Health Behavior and Assessment Intervention (HBAI)
- TIP SHEET: Health and Behavior Assessment and Intervention (HBAI) Services Coverage of Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Medicare and Medicare Advantage (produced by the National Council on Aging)
- For the initial Health and Behavior assessment 96150
- For an individual intervention 96152
- For a Health and Behavior intervention service provided in a group setting 96153
Chronic Care Management (CCM)
- Welcome to TIM Talks: Establishing CBO-Physician Collaborations to Implement Reimbursable Chronic Care Management Services (webinar by consultant Tim McNeil for the Administration for Community Living)
- For 20 min of clinical staff time 99490
Complex Chronic Care Management (Complex CCM)
- Welcome to TIM Talks: Establishing CBO-Physician Collaborations to Implement Reimbursable Chronic Care Management Services (webinar by consultant Tim McNeil for the Administration for Community Living)
- For 60 min of clinical staff time 99487
- For 30 min of clinical staff time 99489