For Physicians

Physician Payment for Home Care Cert/Recerts

002 Rates and Information

Finally, Physicians ... Get paid for what you already do!

On January 1, 2001, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") began to pay physicians for "Cert" and "Recert" of Medicare home health care patients. The payments average $72 for certification and $60 for recertification, depending on location

HCPCS Codes for Physician Home Care Certification / Recertification:

GO180 = Initial Certification of Medicare Home Health Care

Average Payment = $71.67*
Applies only to new orders for Medicare skilled home health care.
One bill per patient per 60-day episode of care.

G0179 = Recertification of Medicare Home Health Care

Average Payment = $60.45*
In prolonged episodes, will typically occur every 60 days.
Not for "change orders."

BOTH G0180 "Cert" and GO179 "Recert" are ...

  1. Billable only by the physician who authorizes home health care. (Nurse Practitioners may not bill.)
  2. Not for Medicaid services, DME or outpatient physical therapy.
  3. Billed under Medicare Part B, which requires physician to bill co-pay.

    Best of all... they do NOT require additional documentation to "Back-Up" your claim. 485 Plan of Care and verbal orders are already provided to the physician for signature.

GO181 = Home Health Care Supervision

Average Payment = $121.63*
In prolonged episodes, will typically occur every 60 days.
Not for "change orders."