General
Chapter 1
Section 6
Reimbursement Of Physician
Assistants (PAs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), And Certified Psychiatric
Nurse Specialists (CPNSs)
Issue Date: July 9, 1990
Revision:
1.0 APPLICABILITY
This policy is mandatory for reimbursement
of services provided by either network or non-network providers.
However, alternative network reimbursement methodologies are permitted
when approved by the Defense Health Agency (DHA) and specifically
included in the network provider agreement.
2.0 ISSUE
How are PA, NP, and CPNS services to be reimbursed?
3.0 POLICY
3.1 The allowable
charge for the services of the above listed providers may not exceed
85% of the allowable charge for a comparable service rendered by
a physician. The employing physician of a PA must be an authorized
TRICARE provider.
3.1.1 When
the employing physician of a PA is not participating in a TRICARE
reimbursement plan at less than the allowable charge determined
under the provisions of
Section 1, the allowable charge for the PA
service may not exceed 85% of the allowable charge for the physician
calculated in accordance with these provisions. When the PA and
the physician perform component services of a procedure other than
assistant-at-surgery (e.g., home, office or hospital visit components),
the allowable charge for the procedure (to include both the services
of the physician and PA) may not exceed the allowable charge for
the procedure rendered by a physician.
3.1.2 When
the employing physician is participating in a TRICARE reimbursement
plan at less than the allowable charge as calculated in
paragraph 3.1.1,
the allowable charge for the PA service may not exceed 85% of the
reduced allowable charge for the physician unless the reimbursement
plan has specifically included use of PAs in the negotiated rates.
3.2 For services
provided on or after July 27, 2012, the allowable charge for PA
services performed as an assistant-at-surgery may not exceed 85%
of the allowable charge for a physician serving as an assistant
surgeon when authorized as TRICARE benefits in accordance with the
provisions of
32 CFR 199.4(c)(3)(iii).
3.3 The allowable
charge for NP services performed as an assistant-at-surgery may
not exceed 85% of the allowable charge for a physician serving as
an assistant surgeon when authorized as TRICARE benefits in accordance
with the provisions of
32 CFR 199.4(c)(3)(iii).
3.4 The procedure
or service performed by the PA is billed by the supervising or employing physician,
billing it as a separately identified line item (e.g., PA Office
Visit) and accompanied by the assigned PA provider number.
3.5 The procedure
or service performed by the NP or CPNS is billed by the NP or CPNS.
Unlike a PA, a NP or CPNS can bill on their own behalf. Like the
PA, the NP or CPNS shall bill using an assigned NP provider number.
4.0 EFFECTIVE
DATES
4.1 Reimbursement of PA services is effective for
services rendered on or after July 1, 1990.
4.2 Reimbursement
of NP services as stated above is effective for services rendered
on or after September 1, 2003.
4.3 Reimbursement of CPNS services
shall be 85% of the allowable amounts for physicians effective for
services rendered on or after June 1, 2007.
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