Tribal and Federal Indian Health Services
This section addresses policy, payment and billing for health care services the federal government provides through Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities, or by tribes through facilities funded by Title I or III of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 93-638), as amended.
We refer to facilities of the federal Indian Health Service as “IHS providers” and facilities operated by federally recognized Indian tribes with Public Law 93-638 funding as “tribal IHS providers.” Facilities operated by tribes that are not federally recognized should refer to other appropriate sections of the MHCP Provider Manual for policy, payment and billing information.
This section provides special instructions for billing covered health care services provided to Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) members through an IHS or tribal facility. In addition to the IHS and tribal-specific policies and coverage, these facilities must also comply with all of the standard MHCP policies and coverage guidelines found in the Provider Manual. Refer to other sections of the MHCP Provider Manual for information about standard coverage and billing policy.
Eligible Providers
An eligible provider is an individual or group enrolled in MHCP who meets MHCP licensure criteria or, in some instances, tribal licensure or certification as established with the Commissioner. For help enrolling a provider, contact MHCP Provider Call Center at 651-431-2700 or 800-366-5411.
Tribal and IHS providers must meet the same service and licensure requirements as all other MHCP-enrolled providers, with the following exceptions:
Under Minnesota Statutes, 256B.02, subdivision 7, a federally recognized Minnesota tribe may, after submitting to the commissioner and receiving approval for such standards, credential health care providers using standards adopted by its governing body. MHCP will accept such standards when enrolling providers credentialed this way.
The following list identifies health professional types that may be eligible to bill MHCP (this list is not all-inclusive):
Eligible Members
American Indians (AI) and Alaska Natives (AN) enrolled in one of the Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP), including Medical Assistance (MA) and MinnesotaCare, are eligible for all covered services of the applicable MHCP program, even when such services are provided through the IHS or tribal facilities. The MA program coordinates coverage for AI or AN members with IHS and enrolled tribal providers.
Covered Services
All services billed to MHCP must be:
Under Minnesota Statutes, 256B.0625, subd.34, all covered MHCP services provided through IHS and tribal facilities are eligible for payment. A tribal provider may offer services beyond the scope of IHS facility services, including home health, chemical dependency, mental health and transportation. Tribal governments may also seek certification from DHS to provide Child Welfare Targeted Case Management (CW-TCM) services and Relocation Service Coordination (RSC).
Services that are not covered services are listed in the related chapters of the MHCP Provider Manual.
Services for MinnesotaCare members are paid according to the payment methodology noted in the applicable individual service sections of the manual.
Billing
All services provided to MHCP members at an IHS or tribal facility must be billed with the facility National Provider Identifier (NPI) or MHCP-assigned Unique Minnesota Provider Identifier (UMPI) provider number. Providers must include the NPI or UMPI on all claim lines requiring a treating provider number. The Department of Human Services (DHS) will deny claims submitted without a treating provider NPI or UMPI when one is required.
Bill all covered services in the appropriate claim formats, for example, 837P (professional), 837D (Dental) or Pharmacy NCPDP. Include all services provided with the claim, even if only one encounter payment will be generated. DHS will not pay for services billed under an individual provider NPI at the IHS encounter rate.
Bill for services provided to non-IHS eligible individuals with a separate NPI or UMPI. Payment for services to non-IHS eligible will be at the same rate as for members who are IHS-eligible.
All claims for individuals on Medical Assistance (MA) or the Prepaid Medical Assistance Program (PMAP) should be submitted to DHS even if the provider is contracted with the managed care organization (MCO). All claims for individuals on MinnesotaCare and enrolled in a MCO plan should be submitted through the MCO.
Billing MHCP or MCO
Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) Services
Submit claims for Child and Teen Checkups services using C&TC policy and billing instructions. Include all services provided with the claim, even if only one encounter payment will be generated.
Inpatient Services
Submit claims for inpatient services as follows:
Outpatient Hospital Surgical Services
When outpatient surgical services are provided, bill according to the following:
Medical supplies and prescription drugs provided and diagnostic services performed on the date of service are considered part of the encounter with the health professional and no separate payments are made.
Third Party Liability (TPL)
TPL coverage, including veterans benefits, private accident insurance, HMO coverage and other health care coverage held by or on behalf of an MHCP member, is primary to MHCP except when the TPL is tribal insurance. Submit claims with tribal insurance by doing the following:
Payment Requirements
Inpatient Hospital Services
All inpatient hospital services are covered under the payment of the inpatient per diem rate established by the IHS. Services do not require prior authorization. Refer to the following sections: Hospital Services, Inpatient Hospital Authorization, Physician and Professional Services and Authorization.
Inpatient Physician Services
MA pays for inpatient physician services that meet the requirements under the approved State Plan Amendment at the MA fee-for-service rates.
Outpatient Services of IHS Facilities
All MA-covered services, including any medical supplies or prescription drugs provided through an IHS outpatient facility, are paid at the IHS encounter rate. Pharmacies, including mail order pharmacies, that are providing drugs for an IHS outpatient visit, should bill the IHS facility and not MHCP for the drugs dispensed.
Outpatient Services of Tribal Facilities
MA-covered services provided through tribal facilities may be paid at either the IHS encounter rate or the applicable fee-for-service rate. Tribes may choose either payment rate for each separate 638 facility. All services of a single facility will be paid at the chosen rate. Service categories eligible for reimbursement at the IHS outpatient reimbursement rate are:
An encounter for a tribal or IHS facility means a face-to-face visit between a member eligible for MA and any health professional at or through an IHS or tribal service location for the provision of MA covered services within a 24-hour period ending at midnight.
Encounters with more than one health professional and multiple encounters with the same professional, within the same service category, that take place in the same 24-hour period constitute a single encounter. An exception to this is when the member, after the first visit, suffers an illness or injury requiring additional diagnosis or treatment. When such a second medically necessary encounter occurs, the second claim must include both the 22 and 76 modifiers, and an attachment explaining the circumstances supporting the second encounter request for payment.
MinnesotaCare Payment to IHS Facilities and Tribal Facilities
Services provided to MinnesotaCare members must be billed according to the requirements designated for each service. The IHS per day and per visit rates do not apply to these members.
Examples of programs, facility type and applicable rate
(Chart may not reflect all MHCP program types or categories.)
MHCP Program | Facility Type | Applicable Rate |
MA: MCOs, or fee-for-service | IHS | IHS encounter rate |
Tribal | IHS encounter rate or fee-for-service rate, as elected by tribe | |
MinnesotaCare | IHS and Tribal | Established rates for specific provider types – check payment methodology and rate information in the appropriate section of the MHCP Provider Manual: |
IM (ancillary medical coverage for MA-eligible people when a patient is in residential behavioral health treatment) | IHS and Tribal | Established rates for specific provider types – check payment methodology and rates in the appropriate section of the MHCP Provider Manual |
Home Health Agency and Visiting Nurse Services
Home health agency services and visiting nurse services qualify as IHS or tribal encounters when the services are:
CW-TCM and RSC Services
CW-TCM services and RSC services are not paid at the IHS encounter rate. CW-TCM services are paid at the established IHS or tribal CW-TCM rate. RSC is covered at the DHS established RSC rate.
Transportation Services
Payments to IHS and tribal providers for ambulance and special transportation services are made independent of IHS and tribal inpatient or outpatient encounter claims.
The IHS inpatient per diem rate is paid when all of the following apply:
When a second transportation service is medically necessary on the same service date, payment for the second trip is made when the services are provided by a tribal provider, the destination is one the member is eligible to receive services from and the service is covered by MA. Whether the second transportation service payment is at the outpatient or inpatient rate depends upon whether the member was admitted within 24 hours of the ambulance trip.
Payment limits for a given service date are based on the following criteria:
Definitions
Facility Support Staff: Individuals employed by the health care facility to support the services provided by the facility’s health professionals. These individuals do not generate billable encounters. Examples of facility support staff are: clinic managers; RNs and LPNs not functioning or acting as physician extenders or visiting nurses; lab technicians; and x-ray technicians.
Indian Health Service (IHS) Facility: A hospital, medical or dental clinic, or pharmacy established and operated by the Federal Indian Health Service.
IHS Inpatient Per Diem Rate: The IHS inpatient per diem rate is the payment amount established to cover services provided to an inpatient at a hospital that is part of the Federal Indian Health Service.
Outpatient Encounter: An encounter means a face-to-face visit between a member and any health professional at an IHS or tribal facility. Multiple encounters with the same professional or with more than one health professional, within the same service category, on the same day, at a single IHS or tribal location, constitute a single encounter. An exception to this is when the member, after the first visit, suffers an illness or injury requiring additional diagnosis or treatment.
Tribal 638 Facility: Tribally owned facilities funded by Title I or III of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, including all facilities under contract, compact, or receiving grants from the IHS. The tribal facility is operated by a federally recognized tribe under a funding agreement with IHS. Tribal facilities may elect to be paid at the IHS rates or at fee-for-service rates.
Legal References
State
Minnesota Statutes, 256B.02, subdivision 7 (Definition of Vendor of medical care)
Minnesota Statutes, 256B.0625 (Covered Services of IHS and Tribal health care facilities)
Federal
Federal Register
Public Law 93-638; Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
Public Law 94-437; Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S. Chapter 18)
Report this page