Medicare: coverage of XMRV tests

[Rrrr]

This thread is to see if medicare ends up covering the XMRV tests (any of them, anywhere)

please post if you find that medicare does or does not cover your XMRV test, and please state what lab you used, and if you can, what diagnosis your doctor used for the test.

thx!

 

[dannybex]

This thread is to see if medicare ends up covering the XMRV tests (any of them, anywhere)

please post if you find that medicare does or does not cover your XMRV test, and please state what lab you used, and if you can, what diagnosis your doctor used for the test.

thx!

My guess is that it will take years...or at least more than one year.

There are many studies that need to replicate the Mikovits study, confirm the results, and then even if it's determined to be a marker, they might even require more studies to show it actually causes CFS/ME...

just my two cents.

d,

 

[Rrrr]

seeking update on medicare

has no one even tried yet to get medicare to cover their xmrv testing?

 

[Lily]

Medicare coverage of XMRV testing.......

Oh yes, way way too early yet to expect this - so many things will need to be in place first as Danny said. Hang in there.....

 

[fairlight]

I sent the form

for Medicare to pay for my xmrv test through VIP.

 

[Rrrr]

fairlight

please let us know what the outcome is!!!! thank you.

rrrr

 

[Tammie]

I have not tried to get Medicare to cover the test for a few reasons....

-most likely they will be among the last to cover it, based on their typical coverage history

-the tests are not really that reliable yet, having blood taken always makes me crash, I am not usually awake & functioning early enough to get to the appt with any ease at all, and we do not really have any treatments if we test positive anyway, so why go thru the stress (physical and emotional) at this point?

-if I were to get tested and turn out negative for XMRV, I am worried that that will somehow effect my disability payments (like they could use it as "proof" that I am not really sick (even though I am very sick) and then turn around and say that I do not deserve SSDI

 

[Rrrr]

has anyone gotten tested for xmrv and found medicare was willing to cover the testing? has anyone been turned down from medicare re: paying for the testing?

rrrr

 

[sleepwalking]

Medicare has been billed for my test. I'm awaiting decision. I will post when I hear something.

 

[Rrrr]

thank you!!! many of us eager await your next post.

rrrr

 

[OurDayWillCome]

I have been checking the VIP site occasionally since they are updating. I want to order the test when they are back up. Decided to check some of the other pages today, and found this:

VIP Dx is a preferred provider for Medicare only. VIP Dx will bill Medicare for their clients and patients.

Although it does state elsewhere that you may have to pay if Medicare does not.

http://www.vipdx.com/resources/client_services/

 

[Cloud]

I narrowly missed getting my test done for free as part of the research group back in October. I think they shut that door the same day of my draw (October 11th). Anyhow, I was put into the public paying group, and having MediCare, I asked VIP what would happen for billing. VIP told me that MediCare doesn't normally pay for new tests like that, but they were going to attempt billing anyhow. They even plan to appeal if denied. So, it's been 3+ months since my test and I'm yet to hear anything from VIP.

 

[Rrrr]

Ross, please keep us posted!

Meanwhile, I emailed VIP and got this reply:


-----Original Message-----
From: Rrrr
Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 6:56 AM
To: info@vipdx.com
Subject: inquiry

hi,
a while back when i inquired about if medicare was covering the xmrv
test, i was told it was too early to tell. can you tell me if, in
general, patients are having success with this? i know you can not
guarantee it, but in general, is medicare covering the test?
_____

Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:16:24 -0800
From: "Marguerite Ross" <Marguerite.Ross@WingfieldNevada.com>
Subject: RE: inquiry
Thread-topic: inquiry

In general, we are seeing a $51.25 reimbursement on the $450 test.

Marguerite Ross, Director
Marketing & Client Relations
VIP Dx / RedLabs
5625 Fox Ave - Rm 369
Reno, NV 89506
775-351-1890
Fax: 775-682-8517
www.vipdx.com

 

[Hysterical Woman]

Hi Rrr,

Thanks for letting us know. At least that is "something". Hopefully that amount will increase as the tests become less experimental.

Take care,

HW

 

[Rrrr]

more info from VIP



-----Original Message-----
From: rrrr
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 9:36 AM
To: Marguerite Ross
Subject: RE: inquiry

hi again,

does it stop there, or do you re-submit to see if they will cover
more of the test?

best
rrrr

Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:14:24 -0800
From: "Marguerite Ross" <Marguerite.Ross@WingfieldNevada.com>
Subject: RE: inquiry
X-Env-Sender: Marguerite.Ross@WingfieldNevada.com

That is after appeal and that is their maximum pay out on this test.
Keep in mind that they also base reimbursement on "medical necessity"
(is this test necessary based on the diagnosis (diagnosis code) provided
by your physician.

Marguerite Ross, Director
Marketing & Client Relations
VIP Dx / RedLabs
5625 Fox Ave - Rm 369
Reno, NV 89506
775-351-1890
Fax: 775-682-8517

www.vipdx.com

 

[Cloud]

Good point on the medical necessity. But, it's kinda hard to prove medical mecessity for a new test that looks for a bug that is yet to be shown to cause illness or any other problems. But if it can be justified, I will surely be one who gets that recognition because my doc is a wizard with these insurance issues. I sure hope they are able to make it happen for all of us. VIP have gone above and beyond with these kinds of issues since I have been connected with them as RedLabs. They go beyond most labs. I really appreciate what they do for us.


I thought the cost of the full xmrv PCR/Culture tests was over $600.00. I'll let ya'll know what happens with my billing.





TE=Rrrr;42674]more info from VIP



-----Original Message-----
From: rrrr
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 9:36 AM
To: Marguerite Ross
Subject: RE: inquiry

hi again,

does it stop there, or do you re-submit to see if they will cover
more of the test?

best
rrrr

Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:14:24 -0800
From: "Marguerite Ross" <Marguerite.Ross@WingfieldNevada.com>
Subject: RE: inquiry
X-Env-Sender: Marguerite.Ross@WingfieldNevada.com

That is after appeal and that is their maximum pay out on this test.
Keep in mind that they also base reimbursement on "medical necessity"
(is this test necessary based on the diagnosis (diagnosis code) provided
by your physician.

Marguerite Ross, Director
Marketing & Client Relations
VIP Dx / RedLabs
5625 Fox Ave - Rm 369
Reno, NV 89506
775-351-1890
Fax: 775-682-8517

www.vipdx.com[/QUOTE]

 

[Lily]

I'm sure one of you out there knows something about medical billing that can provide more details.....but, blood tests are submitted using CPT and/or HCPCS codes aren't they? And when there is no code for a specific test then the appropriate "unspecified code", (or codes) is used. If all of the other coding is correct then the computer will allow the claim to fly through and pay the standard amount allowed for the unspecified code or codes, which is probably the 51.25 for Medicare atm.

An appeal would get a human to look at the claim. So Medicare is either paying the unspecified code amount, or they have decided to allow $51.25 for XMRV testing (which I doubt).

At least Medicare is paying something. It'll be interesting to see the explanation of benefits to see what coding was used and what was paid or denied. I suppose you could ask VIP what billing codes are used.

I guess no one who's been tested has submitted the super bill that VIP provides to their insurance company yet? I would expect parts of it to be reimbursed, especially if they are using unspecified codes. In my case whatever is reimbursed would be at the out-of-network rate (which would be practically nothing) and would all go toward my out-of-network deductible.

Still think it will be a while before there is a standard test that will be reimbursed. A lot has to happen.

 

[Rrrr]

hi all,

is there any new news in terms of medicare covering more for this xmrv testing besides the $51 (out of a $450 bill)? cloud, do you have any new news? anyone have any?

cloud wrote: "I narrowly missed getting my test done for free as part of the research group back in October. I think they shut that door the same day of my draw (October 11th). Anyhow, I was put into the public paying group, and having MediCare, I asked VIP what would happen for billing. VIP told me that MediCare doesn't normally pay for new tests like that, but they were going to attempt billing anyhow. They even plan to appeal if denied. So, it's been 3+ months since my test and I'm yet to hear anything from VIP."

best,
r

 

[Rrrr]

okay, i just called VIP and talked to jessica who answered the phone, who has been there only a few months. she thinks this is the current situation (she thinks!):

lots and lots of patients are getting the test done and submitting the bill to medicare via VIP. medicare is still only paying $51 (for the $450 test that is a virus culture that takes 3 weeks -- the antibody test is still in development, she says). they will set up a payment plan with you if you can't afford the rest right away.

she thinks medicare is paying the $51, period. and she does not think they are paying more upon an appeal to medicare for more.

by and large, the diagnostic codes she is seeing coming thru her office are:

780.71 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
780.79 malaise and fatigue

I will also email Marguerite Ross again, too, just in case jessica got it wrong. she is at:

Marguerite Ross, Director
Marketing & Client Relations
VIP Dx / RedLabs
5625 Fox Ave - Rm 369
Reno, NV 89506
775-351-1890
Fax: 775-682-8517
<Marguerite.Ross@WingfieldNevada.com>

- R

 

[Hope123]

I suspect that it will be a while (perhaps long, hopefully not) before Medicare covers XMRV testing. There would need to be several studies showing causality and perhaps treatment availability before they cover it. As an example, it took the recent healthcare legislation to pass before Medicare covered long-proven preventive measures for the elderly.