New Good Faith Estimate Information
CMS just released a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) regarding good faith estimates. There are two key elements that we want to bring to your attention. Watch the video to learn more!
Referenced Links
Link to CMS’ FAQ
Link to full ICS GFE article
Advertisement
Transcript:
CMS just released a FAQ document surrounding good faith estimates and answering several different questions. The good news is, most of what we covered at the end of December, in our article that we released is exactly accurate, according to the FAQ that they just released. There are two key parts that we want to touch on today. The first surrounds timing, and there was a lot of ambiguousness if you will, there was a lot of disagreement inside of the rules that questioned what about that period three days before. So here’s where they didn’t answer it. If a patient is making an appointment, inside of three business days prior to when that appointment is going to occur, then you as a provider is not are not required to provide a good faith estimate for those visits. So if they’re making it the same day or the day before, or again, the whole thing is inside of three business days from that appointment, then the good faith estimate requirement is not there. So these are only for appointments that are made three days or more prior to when that appointment is to occur. So that’s one key indicator so that that could help reduce some of the burden that is placed in these particular cases.
Now, here’s the other big piece, they did clarify and clearly indicate that the good faith estimates that you generate in your practice now are a part of the patient’s medical record. In fact, exactly what they said is this providers and facilities are reminded that a GFE provided to an uninsured or self-pay individual is considered part of the patient’s medical record, and must be maintained in the same manner as a patient’s medical record. So we recommend that you put in the file that clarification is this, that you have to maintain it just like the rest of the patient’s medical record, this would mean that you’re going to maintain those records for either 10 years or until you until the patient reaches the age of 22, whichever is greater. Hopefully, this information helps you out and we will catch you next week.
