Remark code M7 indicates no rental payments are due after purchase, return, or once rental equals the purchase price.
Remark code M7 indicates that no further rental payments will be made for a medical item that has been purchased, returned, or when the sum of rental payments made to date equals the purchase price of the item. This means that the payer has determined that the financial obligations for renting the item have been fulfilled and no additional rental reimbursement will be provided.
Common causes of code M7 are typically related to the billing and reimbursement process for durable medical equipment (DME). These causes may include:
1. Incorrect billing of rental items: The healthcare provider may have continued to bill for rental payments even after the purchase price has been met or the item has been returned.
2. Miscommunication between the provider and the payer: There may have been a lack of clarity or an oversight regarding the terms of the rental agreement, leading to continued billing beyond the agreed terms.
3. System errors: Automated billing systems may fail to stop rental billing once the purchase price has been reached or if the item is no longer in the patient's possession.
4. Inaccurate tracking of rental payments: The provider may not have accurately tracked the total amount of rental payments received, resulting in overbilling.
5. Failure to update the billing status: The provider might not have updated the billing status to reflect that the item has been purchased or returned, causing continued rental charges to be issued.
6. Delay in processing the purchase or return: There may be a delay in processing the transaction that indicates the item has been purchased or returned, leading to additional rental charges being billed in error.
Addressing these issues requires careful attention to billing practices, clear communication with payers, and accurate record-keeping to ensure that rental payments are stopped at the appropriate time.
Ways to mitigate code M7 include implementing a robust tracking system for rental and purchased medical equipment. Ensure that your billing department has real-time access to patient equipment records, including rental start and end dates, purchase transactions, and return documentation. Regularly reconcile equipment status with billing records to prevent rental charges post-purchase or return. Establish clear communication channels between the clinical staff responsible for equipment management and the billing team to promptly update any changes in equipment status. Additionally, set up automated alerts to notify the billing department when the total rental payments are approaching the purchase price to avoid overpayments.
The steps to address code M7 involve a thorough review of the patient's account to ensure that the billing aligns with the actual status of the medical equipment in question. First, verify the dates of service and the equipment rental period to confirm that no rental claims were submitted after the purchase date or after the rental payments equaled the purchase price. If an overpayment has occurred, process a refund to the payer. If the claim was denied in error, gather documentation that proves the rental was within the appropriate period and resubmit the claim with a detailed explanation. Additionally, update the billing system to reflect the equipment's purchase status to prevent future incorrect rental billings.
Get paid in full by bringing clarity to your revenue cycle
Subscribe to the
Healthcare Clarified newsletter
Get the latest insights on RCM and healthcare policy in your inbox
