medicare coverage for lab work

how frequent can a patient with diabetes with medicare get CMP and Hb A1C checked? every three months or every four months or less frequent?

Jun 5th, 2010 -

Don't think there is a limit

I do it every 3 months on most diabetics and get no problems from the lab on denials.

Jun 6th, 2010 -

medicare coverage for lab work

Thanks for the reply, I have been doing the same also but of late some patients are reporting getting bills for the lab work(some of them have been written off by the lab) and others are having to sign ABN's-which they hesitate to and end up not getting the lab work. Is anyone encountering this?

Jun 7th, 2010 -

I'd look closer

What diagnosis code was used? The NCD clearly states every 3 months. Could they be short a few days? Is the lab being extra careful and requiring an ABN by all patients (which they should not do)?
here is the NCD: http://www.cms.gov/mcd/viewncd.asp?ncd_id=190.21&ncd_version=1&basket=ncd:190.21:1:Glycated+Hemoglobin/Glycated+Protein