DME MACs Issue Standard Common Repair Allowances

ATLANTA — Last week, the DME MACs said they are
instituting a
billing and payment policy for common repairs based on
standardized labor times effective for claims with dates of service
on or after April 1, 2009.

The effective date of the policy, which applies to non-rented
and out-of-warranty items, coincides with the effective date of the
new code for repairs of non-oxygen equipment: K0739 – repair of
non-routine service for DME other than oxygen requiring the skill
of a technician, labor component, per 15 minutes. One unit of
service equals 15 minutes, according the MACs’ message, and code
E1340 will no longer be valid for repairs with dates of service on
or after April 1.

A table in the notice contains repair units of service
allowances for commonly repaired items. The notice said units of
service include basic troubleshooting and problem diagnosis and
reminded providers “that there is no Medicare payment for travel
time or equipment pick-up and/or delivery.”

View the table and read the message in full from NAS, the
Jurisdiction D DME MAC.