Entries by Jennifer Ottman, CPhT

Billing Ozempic® 0.25 mg Weekly as a Maintenance Dose – What is the Big Deal?

PAAS National®® analysts field many questions on Ozempic® relating to off-label use; however, we also receive questions about what days’ supply to submit on claims – particularly for initiation dosing. Section 2.2 of the manufacturer package insert (available on DailyMed) lists the recommended dosage schedule based on clinical trials and includes the following titration schedule: […]

When Can a Wrong Origin Code Lead to Denial or Recoupment?

Per NCPDP’s Telecommunication Version D and Above: Questions, Answers and Editorial Updates, “the Prescription Origin Code (419-DJ) contains the value that represents the method in which the pharmacy originally received the prescription from the prescriber.” Any subsequent changes or modifications to the original prescription do not change the origin code even when clarifications of that […]

Would Your EPIPEN® Claims Pass an Audit?

PAAS National®® continues to see a large number of EPIPEN® prescriptions flagged for audit, as well as targeted on OptumRx prescription validation requests. The PBMs often target EPIPEN® products due to their higher cost and confusion around proper billing practices and product substitution. Adhering to the guidance below can help avoid billing issues and reduce […]

Flu Shot Season Is Upon Us – Are You Prepared for an Audit?

As the flu shot season starts, PAAS National®® wants to make sure you are ready to properly document these routine vaccines in case of an audit. Now is the time to check that you have all required documentation in place for this year’s flu shot season. What is needed upon an audit:

What’s New with Prescription Validation Requests in 2025?

In the PAAS National®® January 2025 Newsline article, PBM Prescription Validation Requests – What Are They Looking At Now? we discussed the PBM trends we saw in 2024. Below is a list of drugs reviewed and analyst comments that have been compiled through the first six months of 2025 along with a comparison from 2024. […]

PBMs Are Criticizing Clinical Notes!

Calling a prescriber’s office due to a prescription with missing elements, or needing clarification, is an inescapable task. If you are failing to document that phone call with a valid clinical note, PBMs may flag the claim upon audit and try to recoup. We have seen OptumRx, Humana, Navitus, and ESI/Prime results citing pharmacy clinical […]

Proof of Patient Consent for a Refill Request: What You Need to Know

If you are a DMEPOS supplier billing Medicare Part B claims, then you should be familiar with the proof of refill request requirement. All DMEPOS items and supplies billed to Medicare Part B that are delivered or mailed require proof of refill request and an affirmative response to occur and be documented prior to shipment. […]

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) – What You Need to Know

There are currently three FDA-approved Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines available for individuals at risk of severe illness from a respiratory virus. Please review the chart for helpful billing tips and the additional information below as to which RSV vaccine is appropriate to give to an eligible individual.

Medicare Part A vs Part D Billing Risks – How to Protect Your Claims

Pharmacies continue to receive PBM audit notices for claim recoupments where the [allegedly] improper Medicare coverage was billed. Medicare Part A helps cover hospital, skilled nursing facility (SNF), and hospice care stays. Medicare coverage status is typically linked to the patient’s admission and discharge dates from a Part A stay. When a patient is covered […]