GW Modifier For Assistance Inapplicable to Hospice Terminal Health care

If a client is a Hospice client that they can not get reimbursed for services if they are not reimbursed by the Hospice carrier, many billers think that. However in fact there is a modifier, GW, that suggests that the care is unassociated to the patient's terminal condition. If the terminal disease or illness runs its normal course, in order for a client to receive Hospice services they need to have a life expectancy of 6 months or less.

Numerous people mistakenly think that this suggests that the patient needs to be bed ridden or critically ill. Lots of hospices encourage the patients to continue with social and leisure activities as long as they are able. My information is put together from chiropractor lynnwood.



This in many cases means that the client could need to see a clinical supplier for something that is not connected to the terminal condition. For example, possibly the patient has low back pain and seeing a chiropractic practitioner gives the patient relief. Their terminal condition is an inoperable brain tumor, or an unusable aortic aneurysm. The back pain is not related to the terminal condition. The patient receives relief from the chiropractic manipulation.

The chiropractor can still see the patient despite the fact that they are receiving hospice and the chiropractic specialist doesn't need to get hospice to accept pay for the care. They can bill the patient's insurance using the GW modifier to suggest "service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition".

There are various other examples of care that can be rendered that is not connected to the terminal condition. Maybe the patient requires and gets conjunctivitis to see an eye doctor to obtain treatment. Once again, the service is unassociated to the terminal condition, but you can't just ignore the conjunctivitis.

When I require it I can't bear in mind which modifier it is, for me the problem is that I make use of the GW modifier so rarely that. So I decided to make it an entry in my rolodex so that when it shows up, I can discover it quickly! Hey, whatever works.

Lots of billers think that if a patient is a Hospice patient that they can not get compensated for services if they are not repaid by the Hospice carrier. In order for a patient to receive Hospice services they need to have a life expectancy of 6 months or less if the terminal ailment or disease runs its normal course.

Many hospices motivate the patients to continue with leisure and social tasks as long as they are able. Maybe the client has reduced back discomfort and seeing a chiropractic doctor gives the patient relief. To get extra information check out chiropractor seattle washington.