Bulletin: December 30, 2009
CMS Ends Payments to Independent Labs for TC of Physician Pathology Services for Hospital Patients
The moratorium in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) that allowed independent laboratories to continue to bill for the technical component (TC) of physician pathology services furnished to hospital patients expires December 31, 2009. For claims with dates of service on and after January 1, 2010, independent laboratories may no longer bill Medicare for the TC of physician pathology services for both inpatients and outpatients.
Providers may choose to temporarily hold their claims for 2010 dates of service to see if the moratorium is extended or further legislation is enacted.
See the NGS Web site for further details.