Military Health System

The Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Defense (DoD) have a shared responsibility to ensure the highest quality of service is delivered efficiently, compassionately, and with minimal inconvenience to our Service Members in the DoD and VA Disability Evaluation System (DES). The Service Member’s experience when participating in the DoD and VA DES will be that the individual is dealing with one Federal health care system or agency. To facilitate these goals, this Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishes expected roles, procedures, and outcomes for VA and DoD regarding the processing of Compensation and Pension (C&P) disability examination requests. It also addresses the reimbursement procedures for these examinations.

1) Maintain those components of the VA Compensation and Pension examination system necessary to ensure objective assessment of disabilities of Service Members identified by Military Health System (MHS) personnel as requiring a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) as part of the DES.

2) Conduct C&P examinations as requested in the DES for both medical conditions to be considered as the basis of fitness for duty determination, and for those claimed by the Service Member.

3) Bill the MHS via the appropriate Regional TRICARE contractors, for those services which are related to medical conditions to be considered as the basis of fitness for duty determination.

1) Identify to VA those Service Members requiring a MEB, and the medical conditions which may render a Service Member unable to fully perform assigned duties or causes them to fall below Service medical retention standards via completion of Section I of the VA Form 21-0819, VA/DoD Joint Disability Evaluation Board Claim.

2) Reimburse VA for C&P services related to DoD-identified medical conditions to be considered as the basis of evaluation for fitness for duty. The services covered will include a C&P General Medical Examination and other C&P examination services related to medical conditions in Section I of the VA Form 21-0819. Additional conditions may be found later in the DES process that may also be used for determination of fitness. Authorization process for conditions identified in Section I of VA Form 21-0819 is discussed in Attachment D.

A.

A DES program oversight contact (POC) will be appointed at each TRICARE Regional Office (TRO), VA Regional Office (VARO), VA Medical Center/Facility and Military Treatment Facility (MTF). The DES oversight official duty may be a collateral duty.

B.

The DoD DES health care provider will determine the conditions that may render the Service Member unable to meet Service medical retention standards or call into question the member’s ability to continue military service. The DoD DES health care provider will annotate these conditions in Section I of VA Form 21-0819 (Attachment A), under “MEDICAL CONDITIONS TO BE CONSIDERED AS THE BASIS OF FITNESS FOR DUTY DETERMINATION.”

C.

The VA Military Services Coordinator (MSC) will coordinate with the Service Member and identify any additional conditions the member may wish to claim for purposes of VA compensation and/or pension. The MSC will annotate these conditions in Section III, Field 8 of the VA Form 21-0819, Additional Conditions. Upon completion of the VA Form 21-0819, the VA MSC will provide the completed form to the local VA medical center billing office.

D.

VA will use the Compensation and Pension Record Interchange (CAPRI) examination request system when possible to transmit data regarding the request, scheduling, completion, and reporting of C&P examinations so that VA and DoD will have notice of C&P examination data and reports. VA and DoD will operate in a provider-to-provider relationship. Transmission of data which cannot be accommodated in CAPRI, such as photocopies of health care documentation, will be resolved on a facility-to-facility basis. All examination requests entered into CAPRI will, at a minimum:

1) State the examination is for a Service member in the DES.

2) Identify specific C&P examination(s) required.

3) Identify specific condition(s) to be evaluated in each C&P examination.

E.

VA will report to the DoD MTF representative the C&P examinations required by the Service Member for evaluation of conditions in Section I of VA Form 21-0819. DoD will use the Military Health System referral management system to transmit an authorization for the VA-reported C&P services to the appropriate Regional TRICARE contractor as outlined in Attachment B. The contractor will in turn transmit the authorization to the appropriate VA medical facility billing office.

F.

Based on findings at the time of the C&P examination and the instructions on the requested Automated Medical Information Exchange (AMIE) worksheet, the Service Member may need to undergo additional examinations. VA will conduct C&P examinations and those other ancillary services needed to complete the C&P examinations for the DES.

G.

DoD and VA will promote the use of approved templates to provide the requested information.

H.

Selected examinations may be conducted using telemedicine technology (a telephonic contact with the Service Member and/or video contact with the Service Member) when clinically and administratively appropriate.

I.

Billing. VA will bill the appropriate regional TRICARE contractor for C&P examination health services related to medical conditions identified in VA Form 21-0819, section I. VA Billing Procedures are contained in Attachment B. Electronic billing is desired and should be used when practical.

J.

Reimbursement. MHS (TRICARE) will reimburse VA for a C&P General Medical Examination, examinations provided for evaluation of medical conditions identified in VA Form 21-0819, Section I, and ancillary services.

K.

VA and DoD, working cooperatively, will make every effort to process claims and resolve issues identified by the other agency in a timely manner. If VA and DoD cannot resolve the issue, it will be forwarded to the Health Executive Committee (HEC) Financial Management Workgroup for final resolution.

A.

Complete C&P examination reports will be available in CAPRI and the Bidirectional Health Information Exchange (BHIE). On average, these reports will be provided by VA and if available, in CAPRI/BHIE, 35 calendar days from the date VA registers as received a properly completed request for examination(s). Complete C&P examination reports include all necessary laboratory and ancillary test results. The C&P examination reports will, at a minimum:

1) Provide the required information from the requested AMIE worksheet(s) and the additional exams identified during the initially ordered C&P examinations.

2) Provide data that will meet DoD/VA DES requirements as documented in the C&P disability examination worksheets, provide results of any additional examinations identified later in the DES process, and adequately address any matters identified in the request for a medical opinion.

B.

Reports. The following reports will be based on the claims submitted to the appropriate Regional TRICARE contractor during the reporting time.

1) On a monthly basis, VA Compensation and Pension Examination Program (CPEP) will prepare C&P timeliness reports listing facility processing times. The C&P timeliness reports will be posted/shared with the MHS and TRO program officials.

2) On a quarterly basis VA will produce a data file of examinations and services provided to Service Members in the DES whose exams have been completed by VA. The file will be shared with the MHS and TRO program officials.

A.

VA will submit a bill to MHS through the TRICARE Managed Care Support (MCS) contracts. VA will bill for C&P examinations and ancillary services associated with the medical conditions which may render a Service Member unable to fully perform assigned duties and/or are to be considered as the basis of fitness for duty determination as listed in Section I of the VA Form 21-0819.

B.

Neither VA nor DoD will bill the Service Member for these C&P examinations and ancillary services as all examinations and services rendered in the DES are authorized and provided by either DoD or VA.

C.

At the present time, the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 99456 does not have a CHAMPUS Maximum Allowable (CMAC) rate. DoD will pay VA the national reasonable charges amount for each exam for CPT code 99456. Ancillary services will be reimbursed based on CMAC less ten percent. Upon agreement of the HEC Financial Management Working Group, and with a minimum two-month advance notification to the contractors, billing procedures may be changed effective annually, on or about 1 January.

D.

VA and DoD will audit services provided and billed quarterly to ensure all C&P examinations and services for which DoD paid were for conditions annotated in Section I of VA Form 21-0819.

E.

C&P examinations and services for conditions claimed in Section III of VA Form 21-0819 will be funded by VA appropriations.

A.

This agreement provides a framework for VA facilities and MTFs to develop local agreements that will address more specific information on operations to implement this program. All local agreements addressing the DoDNA DES shall refer to this MOA.

B.

Requests for modification of this agreement will be submitted in writing from one party to the other, not less than 60 days prior to the desired effective date of such modification.

C.

An annual review of this agreement, including rate structure, will be conducted by both parties to ensure compliance with each Departments’ policies.

D.

This agreement will be renewed automatically on its anniversary date unless either party gives a written 90-day notice of termination or a new agreement is implemented. The provisions are in effect until it is superseded by a new MOA or terminated.

E.

The provisions of this agreement are effective 30 days from the date both approving signatures have been affixed.

Authority: This MOA is entered into under the authority of titles 10 and 38, United States Code (USC), including sections 513 and 8111 of title 38 and chapters 55 and 61 of title 10.

Associated Memoranda of Understandings (MOU): A separate MOU exists and must be consulted regarding processing of Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) exams.

A)

B)

C)

D)

VA Form 21-0819

VA Billing Guidance

CMS -1500 Example

DoD Referral Guidance

1. Registration of DES Participants:

STEP 1: Facility eligibility staff will obtain list of DES participant names based on daily transmittal of disability examination requests (Form 2507) to Facility DES POC.

STEP 2: Eligibility staff will review each DES Participant’s registration information to ensure all fields are correct. For additional guidance on how to register DES participants, refer to the CBO TRICARE Procedure Guide, Chapter 2: Registration; located at http://www.tricare.mil/dvpco/downloads/OSD%2004851-10.pdf.

NOTE --- If VA staff is unable to access the above link, please go to the VHA CBO Home page, CBO Resources, Policy Procedure Guides, and click on Series 1601D: Non-Veteran Beneficiaries and the TRICARE Policy Procedure Guide, click on Chapter 2 as above.

STEP 3: Eligibility staff will notify the DES POC and other appropriate staff that the DES participant’s registration has been reviewed, and corrected as required.

After notification of completion of exam(s) and ancillary services by DES POC, VA billing staff will initiate a claim for payment. Notification method and frequency will be established by local facilities.

STEP 1: Facility needs to ensure that the Patient Insurance File contains the appropriate TRICARE Regional Contractor/Fiscal Intermediary information, especially the EDI parameters.

STEP 2: TRICARE Authorization, along with VA Form 21-0819, will be sent / faxed to the VA Billing Supervisor. Please provide appropriate Billing POC information to the DoD / TRICARE POC. VA staff will use Claims Tracking to document Authorization number by DES participant.

STEP 3: Initiate the claim related to DES Exam (s) using the CMS 1500 (ATTACHMENT C) for ONLY those exams related to the “Referred” conditions listed in Section I on VA Form 21-0819.

Use Rate Type --- “TRICARE,” this will allow for the funds to be placed in the correct Revenue Source Code (RSC).

Some of the information in Blocks 1-13 should autopopulate based on the registration and insurance information in the system.

In Block 1 --- For DES Program, enter “TRICARE”

In Block 1a --- enter the Service Member’s (Service Member) SSN

In Block 2 --- enter the Service Members Name

In Block 3, Block 4, Block 5, Block 7 --- as appropriate

In Block 6 --- enter “Self”

In Block 8 --- enter as appropriate

In Block 9d ---TRICARE

In Block 10a --- enter “Yes”

In Block 11 --- enter Service Members SSN

In Block 14 --- enter date of original 2507

In Block 15 --- leave BLANK

In Block 16--- if possible, enter date of 2507 as date FROM, and Date of exam release as date TO

In Block 18 --- enter date of original 2507

In Block 19 --- enter “DES”

In Block 21 --- enter “V68,01” (for Disability Examination)

In Block 23 --- enter the TRICARE Authorization number

In Block 24a --- enter “Date exam released”

24d --- enter “99456” (CPT Code for “Medical Disability Examination by OTHER than Treating Physician”); NOTE: a separate line item will be required for each authorized exam performed.

TEXT: enter the TYPE of DISABILITY EXAM performed (e.g. PTSD, Audio. Gen Med, etc.)

In Block 24f --- Reasonable Charges for 99456 will auto-populate (base charge is $382.56 in FY 2009) NOTE: If your facility has NOT converted to Reasonable Charges for the TRICARE rate types you will have to manually enter the national Reasonable Charges base rate above (in FY09 rate is $382.56); or contact VA Help Desk to assist in establishing the correct rate to this Rate Type.

In Block 24g --- enter number of exams completed as unit = 1; Again, a separate line item will be required for each authorized disability exam performed.

In Block 28 --- total charges for all procedures (99456) will appear here.

Other Blocks, not otherwise identified are to be completed as for any other 3rd party Insurer.

STEP 4: Initiate the claim for fees related to DES Exam (s) and ancillary services using the CMS 1500 for ONLY those items related to the “Referred” conditions listed in Section I, on VA Form 21-0819.

Use Rate Type --- “TRICARE,” this will allow for the funds to be placed in the correct Revenue Source Code (RSC).

Using the instructions, as above for CMS 1500 for DES exams, complete the CMS 1500 for ancillary services associated with the exams.

Rates: Reimbursement for ancillary services will be based on CMAC less 10 percent.

For additional guidance on how to bill for DES participants, refer to the CBO TRICARE Procedure Guide, http://www.tricare.mil/dvpco/downloads/OSD%2004851-10.pdf.

NOTE --- If VA staff are unable to access the above link, please go to the CBO Home page, CBO Resources, Policy Procedure Guides, and click on Series 160 ID: Non-Veteran Beneficiaries and the TRICARE Policy Procedure Guide, click on Chapter 4B as above.

Where to Submit Claims: The appropriate TRICARE Regional Contractor / Fiscal Intermediary (FI) information, especially the EDI parameters.

Disputes: TBD

CONTACTS: VHA for Billing Issues - Ms. Felicia A. Lecce, Lead Program Specialist/HSS CBO, Business Policy Division Ms. Lecce can be reached at 202-461-1588, or by e-mail at Felicia.Leccegva.gov.

1. Referrals from the DoD to VA for Service Members in DoD/VA DES should be generated by a DoD provider trained on the DES. Based on review of the Service Member’s medical documentation, DoD providers referring Service Members into the DoD/VA DES will ensure all “potentially unfitting, or medically disqualifying conditions” are designated in VA Form 21-0819, Section I, “Medical Conditions to be Considered as the Basis of Fitness for Duty Determination,” before referring the DES case to the VA Military Services Coordinator (MSC).

2. After VA MSC completes the VA Form 21-0819 with the Service Member, and requests the Compensation and Pension (C&P) examinations associated with both the DoD referred and the Service Member claimed conditions, the DoD will be provided a completed copy of VA Form 21-0819, VA/DoD Joint Disability Evaluation Board Claim with the list of requested C&P examinations for each condition.

Example:

3. The MTF Referral Management Section will forward the information to the contractor who will provide VA with the applicable referral number for all the DES related services (e.g.,VA DES C&P exams, necessary laboratory and radiology studies) for the specific Service Member. C&P examination referrals should come from the FEDB, FEDC, and FEDD MEPRS for auditing purposes between DoD and VA.