Consolidated billing coming soon

The Health Care Financing Administration is expected to release a program memorandum around the first of November outlining how it plans for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to implement Part B consolidated billing.

Under the new system, SNFs will submit bills on behalf of their vendors. SNFs are to start phasing in Part B consolidated billing on a voluntary basis April 1, 2001 — while the system is scheduled to become mandatory Jan. 1, 2002.