Hospice’s Must Furnish Vaccines

On May 3^rd 2013 CMS issued Transmittal 1217.  This update states that a hospice can provide vaccines (Influenza, Pneumococcal, and Hepatitis B vaccines) to those beneficiaries who request them, including those who have elected the hospice benefit.  These services are only covered when provided to hospice beneficiaries by their hospice provider.  This Change Request (CR) updates Medicare systems to prevent non-hospice providers from providing vaccines to hospice beneficiaries.  The effective date is October 1, 2013 and the implementation date is October 7, 2013. 

To obtain direct reimbursement from Medicare for providing vaccines they must be enrolled in the Medicare Part B Program.  These vaccines cannot be billed to Medicare on the UG04 Hospice Claim.  They must be billed on the Form CMS-1500.  If a hospice does not have a Medicare supplier number, they should contact their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) to obtain the number.

For more information please utilize the following link for CMS Transmittal:

http://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/guidance/transmittals/downloads/r1217otn.pdf

For Information on Hospice Billing for Vaccines see the following link:

http://www.cgsmedicare.com/hhh/education/materials/BIIPPV.html