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• TodaysWoundClinic.com: Medicare Reimbursement of NPWT Pumps in the U.S.
• 31/08/2013
• 
           TodaysWoundClinic.com: Similar to surgical dressings, there was first just one negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) pump. The manufacturer of that device had the difficult job of introducing NPWT to Medicare; obtaining HCPCS codes for the product, canister, and dressings; obtaining a reasonable DMEPOS Fee Schedule allowable payment rate; obtaining a CPT code to account for the QHPs work of applying the device; working with the DME MACs to write the first LCD for NPWT; and working with the MACs to include positive coverage for the application of NPWT in their LCDs. See Table 1 for a list of HCPCS codes created for traditional NPWT pumps/supplies/dressings and the 2013 national average DMEPOS Fee Schedule rates for those codes. These codes and allowable rates apply when a patient obtains the equipment from a DMEPOS provider/supplier and uses the equipment in his/her home. If a home health agency (HHA) is providing care to the patient in the home, the HHA is not required to supply the traditional NPWT pump/supplies/dressings. The Medicare Part B-covered patient should acquire the NPWT equipment/supplies/dressings from a DMEPOS provider/supplier.
           Similar to the “explosion” of surgical dressings on the market after HCPCS codes and DMEPOS Fee Schedule allowable rates became available, numerous brands of NPWT pumps/supplies/dressings with the same/different features are now available in the marketplace. Those interested in ordering a new brand of NPWT pump can find a listing of traditional NPWT pumps/supplies/dressings that CMS verified eligible to use the traditional NPWT HCPCS codes at www.dmepdac.com/dmecsapp/do/search.
           NOTE: Traditional NPWT pumps/supplies/dressings were added to the Competitive Bidding Program effective July 1. If the patient lives in a competitive bidding area (CBA), the DMEPOS provider/supplier will not be paid the rate listed in Table 1. Instead, the DMEPOS provider/supplier will be paid a single payment rate for that specific CBA. Those competitive bidding rates can be viewed at www.dmecompetitivebid.com. For example: If the patient lives in the Indiana-Chicago Metro competitive bidding area, the single payment rates are:
           A6550 $24.38
           A7000 $7.86
           E2402 $800.00
  
          
  
           TodaysWoundClinic.com by HMP Communications LLC
           Kathleen D. Schaum, MS. August 2013
  
           Reference:
           http://www.todayswoundclinic.com/files/TWC_August2013_Schaum_0.pdf