Is the hip protector reimbursable by CMS (Medicare)?
Answer No. CMS considers it preventive and not as treating the complications of a real disease of older people; Osteoporosis. Like breast x-rays for early cancer, there may have to be Congressional support to pass a law reimbursing the purchaser. At this time there are 1000 hip fractures a day in the US costing $25,000 to $30,000 to repair and rehabilitate for each. This amounts to 900 million dollars a month or 11 billion dollars a year. The National Health Service in England is now covering the cost of hip protectors and hopefully that will happen in the United States.
Related Questions
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Change Request from May 2, 2008 seems to state that only UB-04 claim form billers must include NDC information. Is that correct?
- Are there documentation requirements that must be satisfied before CMS can provide a written opinion on the sufficiency of a Medicare Set-aside?
- Can the Board help me with rules set by reimbursing agencies, such as CMS/Medicare?
