How is home PT INR monitoring administered and reimbursed?
Home PT INR testing is reimbursed as a physician directed service and paid from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Rather than reimburse for the cost of the monitor and supplies, Medicare instead pays a flat fee for every four tests performed. A physician or other provider must provide the monitoring device, test cartridges, and supplies and bill for each four tests the patient performs. Initial patient instruction on the use of the monitor and the performance on one test are also reimbursed. A separate fee is paid to the physician who reviews the results of each four PT INR tests performed. This fee can be paid only to a physician.
