Indiana Administrative Code
Title 405 - OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Article 1 - MEDICAID PROVIDERS AND SERVICES
Rule 16 - Reimbursement for Hospice Services
Section 16-5 - Reimbursement for physician services

(a) The basic payment rates for hospice care represent full reimbursement to the hospice provider for the costs of all covered services related to the treatment of the member's terminal illness, including the administrative and general activities performed by physicians who are employees of or working under arrangements made with the hospice provider. These activities would generally be performed by the physician serving as the medical director and the physician member of the hospice interdisciplinary group. Group activities include participation in the establishment of plans of care, supervision of care and services, periodic review and updating of plans of care, and establishment of governing policies. The costs for these services are included in the reimbursement rates for hospice care.

(b) Reimbursement for a hospice employed physician's direct patient services that are not rendered by a hospice volunteer is made in accordance with the usual Medicaid reimbursement methodology for physician services. These services will be billed by the hospice provider under the Medicaid hospice provider number. The only physician services to be billed separately from the hospice per diem are direct patient care services. Laboratory and x-ray services relating to the terminal condition are included in the hospice daily rate.

(c) Reimbursement for an independent physician's direct patient services that are not rendered by a hospice volunteer is made in accordance with the usual Medicaid reimbursement methodology for physician services. These services will not be billed by the hospice provider under the hospice provider number. The only services to be billed by an attending physician are the physician's personal professional services. Costs for services such as laboratory or x-rays are not to be included on the attending physician's billed charges to Medicaid when those services relate to the terminal condition. These costs are included in the daily rates paid and are expressly the responsibility of the hospice provider.

(d) Volunteer physician services are excluded from Medicaid reimbursement. However, a physician who provides volunteer services to a hospice may be reimbursed for nonvolunteer services provided to hospice patients. In determining which services are furnished on a volunteer basis and which are not, a physician must treat Medicaid patients on the same basis as other hospice patients. For example, a physician may not designate all physician services rendered to non-Medicaid patients as volunteered and at the same time seek payment for all physician services rendered to Medicaid patients.