Medicare Part B Archives - HEALTH & LIFE SCIENCES NEWS

CMS Sneaks 340B Billing Proposals into Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: What 340B Stakeholders Need to Know

On July 10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule, which includes proposals related to identification of Medicare Part B and Part D claims for 340B drugs in order to exclude them from inflation-related Medicare drug rebates established under the Inflation Reduction Act. Because MPFS is not often on the radar for 340B stakeholders, we want to make sure that folks are aware of the 340B-related provisions in the proposed rule and the deadline for submitting comments. We have excerpted the relevant pages of the MPFS proposed rule for ease of reference (the entire proposed rule is well over 2,000 pages and available here. The proposed rules are generally consistent with guidance materials previously released by CMS.

As described in more detail below, the CMS proposals would eventually require claims-level information reporting to exclude Medicare Part D 340B claims and use claim modifiers to exclude Part B claims. ALL 340B-covered entities are now expected to report claim-line modifiers for separately payable Medicare Part B drugs under guidance that was effective January 1, 2024.

Comments are due on September 9, 2024. We note that in light of the recent US Supreme Court decision in the Loper Bright case and the end of the Chevron doctrine, 340B stakeholders should consider submitting comments (both in support of the proposals and with alternatives that CMS should implement). Legal challenges to whatever rules CMS ultimately implements should be expected, and the [...]

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CMS Issues FAQs to Aid Pharmacies in Preparing for Medicare Part B Coverage of PrEP Medications

As we previously advised, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is preparing to issue a national coverage determination (NCD) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) using antiretroviral drugs to prevent HIV under Medicare Part B. In response to questions from stakeholders, CMS released FAQs on June 25, 2024, to guide pharmacies through certain enrollment and billing intricacies.

Specifically, pharmacies are instructed that no new Medicare enrollment is needed if pharmacies are already enrolled in Medicare as a Part B pharmacy or a durable medical equipment, prosthetic, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) supplier. However, if the pharmacy is not currently enrolled in Medicare, they should consider enrolling as a Part B pharmacy rather than a DMEPOS supplier so that they are not subject to the supplier standards, accreditation and surety bond requirements.

CMS also provides pharmacies with appropriate ICD-10 CM diagnosis codes and J-codes to include with claims and instructs pharmacies that the date the drug is picked up or mailed should be entered as the date of service. Finally, recognizing that some pharmacies will fill orders for injectable PrEP to be administered by qualified practitioners, pharmacies may include a claim for the supplying fee along with a claim for the drug where appropriate. CMS anticipates that the final NCD will be posted and effective in late September 2024. The NCD is expected to be similar to the proposed NCD published on July 12, 2023.