CMS Pub. 100-04, ch. 12, § 30.6.13

Definition of Initial and Subsequent Visits

An initial service is one that occurs when the patient has not received any professional services

from the physician or other NPP of the same specialty who belongs to the same group practice

during the stay. A subsequent service is one that occurs when the patient has received any

professional services from the physician or NPP of the same specialty who belongs to the same

group practice during the stay.

A. Visits to Perform the Initial Comprehensive Assessment and Annual Assessments

The distinction made between the delegation of physician visits and tasks in a skilled nursing

facility (SNF) and in a nursing facility (NF) is based on the Medicare Statute. Section 1819 (b)

(6) (A) of the Social Security Act (the Act) governs SNFs while section 1919 (b) (6) (A) of the

Act governs NFs. For further information refer to the Medicare Learning Network article

SE0418 at: http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNGenInfo/index.html?redirect=/MLNGenInfo

The federally mandated visits in a SNF and NF must be performed by the physician except as

otherwise permitted (42 CFR 483.40 (c) (4) and (f)). The principal physician of record must

append the modifier “-AI”, (Principal Physician of Record), to the initial nursing facility care

code. This modifier will identify the physician who oversees the patient’s care from other

physicians who may be furnishing specialty care. All other physicians or qualified NPPs who

perform an initial evaluation in the NF or SNF may bill the initial nursing facility care code.

The initial federally mandated visit is defined in S&C-04-08 (see http://www.cms.gov/site-search/search-results.html?q=S%26C-04-08) as the initial comprehensive visit during which

the physician completes a thorough assessment, develops a plan of care, and writes or verifies

admitting orders for the nursing facility resident. For Survey and Certification requirements, a

visit must occur no later than 30 days after admission.

Further, per the Long Term Care regulations at 42 CFR 483.40 (c) (4) and (e) (2), in a SNF the

physician may not delegate a task that the physician must personally perform. Therefore, as

stated in S&C-04-08 the physician may not delegate the initial federally mandated

comprehensive visit in a SNF.

The only exception, as to who performs the initial visit, relates to the NF setting. In the NF

setting, a qualified NPP (i.e., a nurse practitioner (NP), physician assistant (PA), or a clinical

nurse specialist (CNS)), who is not employed by the facility, may perform the initial visit when

the State law permits. The evaluation and management (E/M) visit shall be within the State

scope of practice and licensure requirements where the E/M visit is performed and the

requirements for physician collaboration and physician supervision shall be met.

Under Medicare Part B payment policy, other medically necessary E/M visits may be

performed and reported prior to and after the initial visit, if the medical needs of the patient

require an E/M visit. A qualified NPP may perform medically necessary E/M visits prior to

and after the initial visit if all the requirements for collaboration, general physician supervision,

licensure, and billing are met.

The CPT Nursing Facility Services codes shall be used with place of service (POS) 31 (SNF) if

the patient is in a Part A SNF stay. They shall be used with POS 32 (nursing facility) if the

patient does not have Part A SNF benefits or if the patient is in a NF or in a non-covered SNF

stay (e.g., there was no preceding 3-day hospital stay). The CPT Nursing Facility code

definition also includes POS 54 (Intermediate Care Facility/Individuals with Intellectual

Disabilities) and POS 56 (Psychiatric Residential Treatment Center). For further guidance on

POS codes and associated CPT codes refer to §30.6.14.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Initial Nursing Facility Care codes 99301- 99303 are deleted.

Beginning January 1, 2006, the new CPT codes, Initial Nursing Facility Care, per day, (99304 -

99306) shall be used to report the initial federally mandated visit. Only a physician may report

these codes for an initial federally mandated visit performed in a SNF or NF (with the

exception of the qualified NPP in the NF setting who is not employed by the facility and when

State law permits, as explained above).

A readmission to a SNF or NF shall have the same payment policy requirements as an initial

admission in both the SNF and NF settings.

A physician who is employed by the SNF/NF may perform the E/M visits and bill

independently to Medicare Part B for payment. An NPP who is employed by the SNF or NF

may perform and bill Medicare Part B directly for those services where it is permitted as

discussed above. The employer of the PA shall always report the visits performed by the PA.

A physician, NP or CNS has the option to bill Medicare directly or to reassign payment for

his/her professional service to the facility.

As with all E/M visits for Medicare Part B payment policy, the E/M documentation guidelines

apply.

For Office/Outpatient or Emergency Department E/M Visit on Day of Admission to Nursing

Facility see section 30.6.7.C above.

A given practitioner cannot bill an initial NF visit and another E/M visit (such as an O/O visit

or ED visit) on the same date of service, for the same patient. However, the time the

practitioner spends furnishing a visit in another setting can be counted toward reporting

prolonged NF services, if requirements for reporting prolonged NF services are met.

Medically Necessary Visits

Qualified NPPs may perform medically necessary E/M visits prior to and after the physician’s

initial federally mandated visit in both the SNF and NF. Medically necessary E/M visits for

the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed

body member are payable under the physician fee schedule under Medicare Part B. A

physician or NPP may bill the most appropriate initial nursing facility care code (CPT

codes 99304- 99306) or subsequent nursing facility care code (CPT codes 99307 -99310),

even if the E/M service is provided prior to the initial federally mandated visit.

SNF Setting--Place of Service Code 31

Following the initial federally mandated visit by the physician, the physician may delegate

alternate federally mandated physician visits to a qualified NPP who meets collaboration and

physician supervision requirements and is licensed as such by the State and performing within

the scope of practice in that State.

NF Setting--Place of Service Code 32

Per the regulations at 42 CFR 483.40 (f), a qualified NPP, who meets the collaboration and

physician supervision requirements, the State scope of practice and licensure requirements, and

who is not employed by the NF, may at the option of the State, perform the initial federally

mandated visit in a NF, and may perform any other federally mandated physician visit in a NF

in addition to performing other medically necessary E/M visits.

Questions pertaining to writing orders or certification and recertification issues in the SNF and

NF settings shall be addressed to the appropriate State Survey and Certification Agency

departments for clarification.

B. Visits to Comply With Federal Regulations (42 CFR 483.40 (c) (1)) in the SNF and NF

Payment is made under the physician fee schedule by Medicare Part B for federally mandated

visits. Following the initial federally mandated visit by the physician or qualified NPP where

permitted, payment shall be made for federally mandated visits that monitor and evaluate

residents at least once every 30 days for the first 90 days after admission and at least once

every 60 days thereafter.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Subsequent Nursing Facility Care, per day, codes 99311- 99313

are deleted.

Beginning January 1, 2006, the new CPT codes, Subsequent Nursing Facility Care, per day,

(99307 - 99310) shall be used to report federally mandated physician E/M visits and medically

necessary E/M visits.

A/B MACs (B) shall not pay for more than one E/M visit performed by the physician or

qualified NPP for the same patient on the same date of service. The Nursing Facility Services

codes represent a “per day” service.

The federally mandated E/M visit may serve also as a medically necessary E/M visit if the

situation arises (i.e., the patient has health problems that need attention on the day the

scheduled mandated physician E/M visit occurs). The physician/qualified NPP shall bill only

one E/M visit.

Beginning January 1, 2023, the CPT code, Other Nursing Facility Service (99318), has been

deleted and is no longer used to report an annual nursing facility assessment visit on the

required schedule of visits on an annual basis. Effective for dates of service on and after 1-1-

2023, for Medicare Part B payment policy, the regular code set for Nursing Facility Services

shall be used.

Qualified NPPs, whether employed or not by the SNF, may perform alternating federally

mandated physician visits, at the option of the physician, after the initial federally mandated

visit by the physician in a SNF.

Qualified NPPs in the NF setting, who are not employed by the NF and who are working in

collaboration with a physician, may perform federally mandated physician visits, at the option

of the State.

Medicare Part B payment policy does not pay for additional E/M visits that may be required by

State law for a facility admission or for other additional visits to satisfy facility or other

administrative purposes. E/M visits, prior to and after the initial federally mandated physician

visit, that are reasonable and medically necessary to meet the medical needs of the individual

patient (unrelated to any State requirement or administrative purpose) are payable under

Medicare Part B.

C. Visits by Qualified Nonphysician Practitioners

All E/M visits shall be within the State scope of practice and licensure requirements where the

visit is performed and all the requirements for physician collaboration and physician

supervision shall be met when performed and reported by qualified NPPs. General physician

supervision and employer billing requirements shall be met for PA services in addition to the

PA meeting the State scope of practice and licensure requirements where the E/M visit is

performed.

Medically Necessary Visits

Qualified NPPs may perform medically necessary E/M visits prior to and after the physician’s

initial visit in both the SNF and NF. Medically necessary E/M visits for the diagnosis or

treatment of an illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member are

payable under the physician fee schedule under Medicare Part B. A physician or NPP may

bill the most appropriate initial nursing facility care code (CPT codes 99304 -99306) or

subsequent nursing facility care code (CPT codes 99307- 99310), even if the E/M service

is provided prior to the initial federally mandated visit.

SNF Setting--Place of Service Code 31

Following the initial federally mandated visit by the physician, the physician may delegate

alternate federally mandated physician visits to a qualified NPP who meets collaboration and

physician supervision requirements and is licensed as such by the State and performing within

the scope of practice in that State.

NF Setting--Place of Service Code 32

Per the regulations at 42 CFR 483.40 (f), a qualified NPP, who meets the collaboration and

physician supervision requirements, the State scope of practice and licensure requirements, and

who is not employed by the NF, may at the option of the State, perform the initial federally

mandated visit in a NF, and may perform any other federally mandated physician visit in a NF

in addition to performing other medically necessary E/M visits.

Questions pertaining to writing orders or certification and recertification issues in the SNF and

NF settings shall be addressed to the appropriate State Survey and Certification Agency

departments for clarification.

D. Medically Complex Care

Payment is made for E/M visits to patients in a SNF who are receiving services for medically

complex care upon discharge from an acute care facility when the visits are reasonable and

medically necessary and documented in the medical record. Physicians and qualified NPPs

shall report initial nursing facility care codes for their first visit with the patient. The principal

physician of record must append the modifier “-AI” (Principal Physician of Record), to the

initial nursing facility care code when billed to identify the physician who oversees the

patient’s care from other physicians who may be furnishing specialty care. Follow-up visits

shall be billed as subsequent nursing facility care visits.

E. Incident to Services

Where a physician establishes an office in a SNF/NF, the “incident to” services and

requirements are confined to this discrete part of the facility designated as his/her office.

“Incident to” E/M visits, provided in a facility setting, are not payable under the Physician Fee

Schedule for Medicare Part B. Thus, visits performed outside the designated “office” area in

the SNF/NF would be subject to the coverage and payment rules applicable to the SNF/NF

setting and shall not be reported using the CPT codes for office or other outpatient visits or use

place of service code 11.

F. Prolonged NF Services

Beginning January 1, 2023, prolonged NF services are reported using Medicare-specific coding

(HCPCS code G0317). Prolonged Services can be reported when time is used to select visit

level, and the total time for the highest-level visit is exceeded by 15 or more minutes for

services that are reasonable and medically necessary. See Prolonged Services section below for

detailed reporting instructions on prolonged NF visits. Prolonged services are not reportable in

conjunction with codes for NF discharge day management.

G. Multiple Visits

The complexity level of an E/M visit and the CPT code billed must be a covered and medically

necessary visit for each patient (refer to §§1862 (a)(1)(A) of the Act). Claims for an

unreasonable number of daily E/M visits by the same physician to multiple patients at a facility

within a 24-hour period may result in medical review to determine medical necessity for the

visits. The E/M visit (Nursing Facility Services) represents a “per day” service per patient as

defined by the CPT code. The medical record must be personally documented by the physician

or qualified NPP who performed the E/M visit and the documentation shall support the specific

level of E/M visit to each individual patient.

H. Split (or Shared) SNF/NF E/M Visit

SNF E/M visits may be billed as split (or shared) visits if they meet the rules for split (or

shared) visit billing, discussed in our other manual sections, except for SNF E/M visits that are

required to be performed in their entirety by a physician. NF visits do not meet the definition

of split (or shared) services, and therefore, are not billable as such. See section 30.6.18 for

additional information.

I. SNF/NF Discharge Day Management Service

Medicare Part B payment policy requires a face-to-face visit with the patient provided by the

physician or the qualified NPP to meet the SNF/NF discharge day management service as

defined by the CPT code. The E/M discharge day management visit shall be reported for the

date of the actual visit by the physician or qualified NPP even if the patient is discharged from

the facility on a different calendar date. The CPT codes 99315 - 99316 shall be reported for

this visit. The Discharge Day Management Service may be reported using CPT code 99315 or

99316, depending on the code requirement, for a patient who has expired, but only if the

physician or qualified NPP personally performed the death pronouncement.