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Pediatric Personal Care Benefit Billing Manual

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The purpose of this billing manual is to provide policy and billing guidance to providers to obtain reimbursement for personal care services. This manual is updated periodically to reflect changes in policy and regulations. It applies only to the Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) Pediatric Personal Care benefit and does not address services available through other Health First Colorado benefits or any services available through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs.

Personal Care Benefit Overview

The Pediatric Personal Care benefit is available to Health First Colorado members 20 years old and younger who require personal care (PC) services.

Personal Care services are medically necessary services that do not require a provider to have a medical certification or a professional license to safely provide services. Under this benefit, a PC provider assists the Health First Colorado member with PC tasks in order to meet his or her physical, maintenance, and supportive needs. This assistance may take the form of hands-on assistance (actually performing a task for the person), supervision (ensuring a task is performed safely, including active intervention), or prompting or cuing the member to complete the task.

If a member requires support of a medically skilled caregiver to complete a task, such as bathing or hygiene, the associated task shall be considered skilled in nature and covered under other Health First Colorado state plan benefits and/or Colorado HCBS waiver programs.

Waiver Case Managers must collaborate with Pediatric Personal Care Providers to ensure that PARs are submitted correctly and on time to prevent overlap or omission of authorized personal care units between the Medical PAR and Waiver PAR.

Personal Care providers must work with the member's case manager to ensure that any current PARS for these services are cancelled or modified prior to starting services under the Medicaid fee for service program.

Additional information about this benefit, including eligibility rules for providers, details about what tasks are covered, and interaction with other Health First Colorado programs, can be found in the Personal Care Benefit Coverage Standard.

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Billing Information

Refer to the General Provider Information manual for general billing information.

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Eligible Providers

Prescribing/Ordering Providers

  • Physician, either a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
  • Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)

Note: Under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation, all 485 Plans of Care - or other form with identical content - must be signed by an MD, DO, or APN.

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Rendering and Billing Provider Numbers

Personal Care services must be billed using the 837 Professional (837P) transaction or CMS 1500 form, which requires using rendering provider identification numbers.

Class B agencies billing for PC services through Online Portal must enter their billing NPI number in the Rendering Provider ID field on the Detail Line Items tab or in line 24J of the CMS 1500 Professional claim form.

Each agency's specific billing number will be used to reimburse the claim.

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Prior Authorization Requests (PARs)

The ColoradoPAR Program is Health First Colorado's Utilization Management (UM) Program. A third-party vendor reviews Prior Authorization Requests (PARs) to ensure services requested meet medical necessity guidelines and are within Health First Colorado's policies.

The ColoradoPAR Program's third-party vendor processes electronic PARs through an online PAR portal. The online PAR portal is a web-based HIPAA-compliant PAR system that offers providers 24/7 access to the information and functions providers need. Clinical documentation will be accepted in the following formats: doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pdf, jpg, gif, bmp, tiff, tif, and jpeg.

See ColoradoPAR web page for information and instructions on how to submit PARs electronically through the online PAR portal. For additional assistance or support, contact the ColoradoPAR provider helpline at 888-801-9355. PAR status may be verified in the online PAR portal or by contacting the ColoradoPAR provider helpline. The approved PAR identification number must be submitted with the claim to receive payment.

Claims for prior authorized services must be submitted within 365days of the date of service. Services rendered prior to the authorized date will be denied reimbursement.

Approval of the PAR does not guarantee payment by Health First Colorado. The member and the PC provider shall meet all applicable eligibility requirements at the time services are rendered and services shall be delivered in accordance with all applicable service limitations. Health First Colorado is the payer of last resort and the presence of an approved or partially approved PAR does not release the agency from the requirement to bill Medicare or other third-party insurance prior to billing Health First Colorado.

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PAR Requirements

  • Any provider submitting a PAR must be enrolled in the Health First Colorado Program. Providers must also verify eligibility at the time service is rendered and include the necessary information with the PAR.
  • All PC services require prior authorization by Health First Colorado's third-party vendor using the approved prior authorization request online portal.
  • The PAR is comprised of a completed Personal Care Assessment Tool (PCAT), the physician's orders, and the Plan of Care:
    • The PCAT can be completed by a Class A or B agency
    • PC services must be ordered in writing by the member's prescribing provider as part of a written Plan of Care
    • The prescribing provider's order and signed Plan of Care must be submitted with the PCAT as part of the PAR
  • It is the agency's responsibility to provide sufficient documentation to support the medical necessity for the requested services.
  • PC services PARs may be submitted for up to a full year of anticipated services unless:
    • The member is not expected to need a full year of services
    • The member's eligibility is not expected to span the entire year or,
    • As otherwise specified by Health First Colorado.
  • PARs must be submitted to Health First Colorado's third-party vendor in accordance with 10 CCR 2505-10 § 8.058.
  • A PAR will be pended by Health First Colorado's third-party vendor if all of the required information is not provided in the PAR, or additional information is required by the third-party vendor to complete the review. If the third-party vendor does not receive the required documentation within four (4) business days, the PAR will be denied for lack of information.
  • When a PAR includes a request for reimbursement for two (2) staff members at the same time (excluding supervisory visits) to perform two-person transfers or another PC task, documentation supporting the need for two (2) people and the reason adaptive equipment cannot be used must be included.
  • All other information determined necessary by Health First Colorado's third-party vendor to make a decision on the medical necessity and appropriateness of the proposed treatment plan must be included.
  • The agency is required to submit a PAR revision, which must include revisions to all documentation, including the Plan of Care, if/when the member experiences a change in condition necessitating a change in the amount, duration, or frequency of a member's PC services.
  • When a member receiving PC services through Health First Colorado receives additional PC services through a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver, the HCBS waiver program is considered the payer of last resort.
  • The PAR will be reviewed by medical experts in children's health who work for the Health First Colorado program's third-party vendor. Nurses and doctors will decide if the request for personal care meets the rules for medical necessity and for the Personal Care Benefit.
  • An approved PAR is valid for up to one (1) year. After one (1) year, a personal care provider must submit a new PAR for another year of PC services.

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Peer-to-Peer and Reconsideration Process

  • Prior to denying or partially denying a PAR, the MD, DO, or APN who requested the PAR will be contacted to discuss the PAR over the phone in a process called a Peer-To-Peer review. If the Peer-To-Peer review still results in a denied or partially denied PAR, the personal care provider can work with the MD, DO, or APN on these two (2) options:
  • PAR Reconsideration: A PAR Reconsideration is similar to a second opinion and must be requested by the personal care provider. A MD, DO, or APN who is different from the one who made the initial PAR denial will re-review the PAR along with the new information and make a final PAR decision. Additional documents not submitted with the original request may be submitted during the Reconsideration process.
  • PAR Resubmission: Submit a new PAR that includes additional medical information needed for the PAR review.

The provider will be notified of the final PAR determination via the online PAR portal. The provider and member will receive the final PAR determination letter from the Department's fiscal agent. If the PAR is denied, the provider will also receive a detailed explanation of why the PAR was denied. A member who receives a denial notification letter has the option to submit a written request for an appeal to the Office of Administrative Courts.

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Claim Submission

Pediatric Personal Care Benefit Procedure Code Table

Providers may bill the following procedure codes for Pediatric Personal Care services:

Pediatric Personal Care Benefit Procedure Code Table
Description Procedure Code Units
Personal care services, per 15 minutes, not for an inpatient or resident of a hospital nursing facility, icf/mr or imd, part of the individualized plan of treatment (code may not be used to identify services provided by home health aide or certified nurse assistant). T1019 1 unit = 15 minutes

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CMS 1500 Paper Claim Reference Table

The following paper form reference table shows required, optional, and conditional fields and detailed field completion instructions for the CMS 1500 claim form.

CMS Field Number & Label Field is? Instructions
1. Insurance Type Required Place an "X" in the box marked as Medicaid.
1a. Insured's ID Number Required Enter the member's Health First Colorado seven-digit Health First Colorado ID number as it appears on the Medicaid Identification card. Example: A123456.
2. Patient's Name Required Enter the member's last name, first name, and middle initial.
3. Patient's Date of Birth/Sex Required Enter the member's birth date using two digits for the month, two digits for the date, and two digits for the year. Example: 070114 for July 1, 2014.

Place an "X" in the appropriate box to indicate the sex of the member.
4. Insured's Name Conditional Complete if the member is covered by a Medicare health insurance policy.

Enter the insured's full last name, first name, and middle initial. If the insured used a last name suffix (e.g., Jr, Sr), enter it after the last name and before the first name.
5. Patient's Address Not Required  
6. Patient's Relationship to Insured Conditional Complete if the member is covered by a commercial health insurance policy. Place an "X" in the box that identifies the member's relationship to the policyholder.
7. Insured's Address Not Required  
8. Reserved for NUCC Use Not Required  
9. Other Insured's Name Conditional If field 11d is marked "YES", enter the insured's last name, first name and middle initial.
9a. Other Insured's Policy or Group Number Conditional If field 11d is marked "YES", enter the policy or group number.
9b. Reserved for NUCC Use    
9c. Reserved for NUCC Use    
9d. Insurance Plan or Program Name Conditional If field 11D is marked "YES", enter the insurance plan or program name.
10a-c. Is patient's condition related to? Not Required When appropriate, place an "X" in the correct box to indicate whether one or more of the services described in field 24 are for a condition or injury that occurred on the job, as a result of an auto accident or other.
10d. Reserved for Local Use    
11. Insured's Policy, Group or FECA Number Not Required  
11a. Insured's Date of Birth, Sex Not Required  
11b. Other Claim ID Not Required  
11c. Insurance Plan Name or Program Name Not Required  
11d. Is there another Health Benefit Plan? Conditional When appropriate, place an "X" in the correct box. If marked "YES", complete 9, 9a and 9d.
12. Patient's or Authorized Person's signature Required Enter "Signature on File", "SOF", or legal signature. If there is no signature on file, leave blank or enter "No Signature on File".

Enter the date the claim form was signed.
13. Insured's or Authorized Person's Signature Not Required  
14. Date of Current Illness Injury or Pregnancy Not Required  
15. Other Date Not Not Required  
16. Date Patient Unable to Work in Current Occupation Not Required  
17. Name of Referring Physician Conditional  
18. Hospitalization Dates Related to Current Service Conditional Complete for services provided in an inpatient hospital setting. Enter the date of hospital admission and the date of discharge using two (2) digits for the month, two (2) digits for the date and two (2) digits for the year. Example: 070115 for July 1, 2015. If the member is still hospitalized, the discharge date may be omitted. This information is not edited.
19. Additional Claim Information Conditional  
20. Outside Lab?
$ Charges		 Conditional Complete if all laboratory work was referred to and performed by an outside laboratory. If this box is checked, no payment will be made to the physician for lab services. Do not complete this field if any laboratory work was performed in the office.

Practitioners may not request payment for services performed by an independent or hospital laboratory.
21. Diagnosis or Nature of Illness or Injury Required Enter at least one but no more than twelve diagnosis codes based on the member's diagnosis/condition.

Enter applicable ICD-10 indicator.
22. Medicaid Resubmission Code Conditional List the original reference number for resubmitted claims.

When resubmitting a claim, enter the appropriate bill frequency code in the left- hand side of the field.
7 - Replacement of prior claim
8 - Void/Cancel of prior claim
This field is not intended for use for original claim submissions.
23. Prior Authorization Not Required  
24. Claim Line Detail Information The paper claim form allows entry of up to six detailed billing lines. Fields 24A through 24J apply to each billed line.

Do not enter more than six lines of information on the paper claim. If more than six lines of information are entered, the additional lines will not be entered for processing.

Each claim form must be fully completed (totaled).

Do not file continuation claims (e.g., Page 1 of 2).
24A. Dates of Service Required The field accommodates the entry of two dates: a "From" date of services and a "To" date of service. Enter the date of service using two digits for the month, two digits for the date and two digits for the year. Example: 010119 for January 1, 2019.
From To
01 01 19      
or
From To
01 01 19 01 01 19
Span dates of service
From To
01 01 19 01 31 19
EPSDT
All dates of service must be the same date as screening.
24B. Place of Service Required Enter the Place of Service (POS) code that describes the location where services were rendered. Health First Colorado accepts the CMS place of service codes.
12 Home
24C. EMG Conditional Enter a "Y" for YES or leave blank for NO in the bottom, unshaded area of the field to indicate the service is rendered for a life-threatening condition or one that requires immediate medical intervention.

If a "Y" for YES is entered, the service on this detail line is exempt from co-payment requirements.
24D. Required Enter the HCPCS procedure code that specifically describes the service for which payment is requested.

All procedures must be identified with codes in the current edition of Physicians Current Procedural Terminology (CPT). CPT is updated annually.

HCPCS Level II Codes
The current Medicare coding publication (for Medicare crossover claims only).

Only approved codes from the current CPT or HCPCS publications will be accepted.
24E. Diagnosis Pointer Required Enter the diagnosis code reference letter (A-L) that relates the date of service and the procedures performed to the primary diagnosis.

At least one diagnosis code reference letter must be entered.

When multiple services are performed, the primary reference letter for each service should be listed first, other applicable services should follow.

This field allows for the entry of 4 characters in the unshaded area.
24F. $ Charges Required Enter the usual and customary charge for the service represented by the procedure code on the detail line. Do not use commas when reporting dollar amounts. Enter 00 in the cents area if the amount is a whole number.

Some CPT procedure codes are grouped with other related CPT procedure codes. When more than one procedure from the same group is billed, special multiple pricing rules apply.

The base procedure is the procedure with the highest allowable amount. The base code is used to determine the allowable amounts for additional CPT surgical procedures when more than one procedure from the same grouping is performed.

Submitted charges cannot be more than charges made to non-Health First Colorado covered individuals for the same service.

Do not deduct Health First Colorado co- payment or commercial insurance payments from the usual and customary charges.
24G. Days or Units Required Enter the number of services provided for each procedure code.
Enter whole numbers only- do not enter fractions or decimals.

Anesthesia Services
Anesthesia services must be reported as minutes. Units may only be reported for anesthesia services when the code description includes a time period.

Anesthesia time begins when the anesthetist begins member preparation for induction in the operating room or an equivalent area and ends when the anesthetist is no longer in constant attendance. No additional benefit or additional units are added for emergency conditions or the member's physical status.

The fiscal agent converts reported anesthesia time into fifteen minute units. Any fractional unit of service is rounded up to the next fifteen minute increment.

Codes that define units as inclusive numbers
Some services such as allergy testing define units by the number of services as an inclusive number, not as additional services.
24H. EPSDT/Family Plan Conditional EPSDT (shaded area)
For Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment related services, enter the response in the shaded portion of the field as follows:
AV - Available- Not Used
S2 - Under Treatment
ST - New Service Requested
NU - Not Used

Family Planning (unshaded area)
Not Required
24I. ID Qualifier Not Required  
24J. Rendering Provider ID # Required In the shaded portion of the field, enter the NPI of the Health First Colorado provider number assigned to the individual who actually performed or rendered the billed service. This number cannot be assigned to a group or clinic.
25. Federal Tax ID Number Not Required  
26. Patient's Account Number Optional Enter information that identifies the member or claim in the provider's billing system. Submitted information appears on the Remittance Advice (RA).
27. Accept Assignment? Required The accept assignment indicates that the provider agrees to accept assignment under the terms of the payer's program.
28. Total Charge Required Enter the sum of all charges listed in field 24F. Do not use commas when reporting dollar amounts. Enter 00 in the cents area if the amount is a whole number.
29. Amount Paid Conditional Enter the total amount paid by Medicare or any other commercial health insurance that has made payment on the billed services.

Do not use commas when reporting dollar amounts. Enter 00 in the cents area if the amount is a whole number.
30. Rsvd for NUCC Use    
31. Signature of Physician or Supplier Including Degrees or Credentials Required Each claim must bear the signature of the enrolled provider or the signature of a registered authorized agent.

Each claim must have the date the enrolled provider or registered authorized agent signed the claim form. Enter the date the claim was signed using two digits for the month, two digits for the date and two digits for the year. Example: 070116 for July 1, 2016.

Unacceptable signature alternatives:
Claim preparation personnel may not sign the enrolled provider's name.
Initials are not acceptable as a signature.
Typed or computer printed names are not acceptable as a signature.
"Signature on file" notation is not acceptable in place of an authorized signature.
32. Service Facility Location Information
32a- NPI Number
32b- Other ID #		 Required Enter the name, address and ZIP code of the individual or business where the member was seen or service was performed in the following format:
1st Line Name
2nd Line Address
3rd Line City, State and ZIP Code
If the Provider Type is not able to obtain an NPI, enter the eight-digit Health First Colorado provider number of the individual or organization.
33. Billing Provider
Info & Ph #		 Required Enter the name of the individual or organization that will receive payment for the billed services in the following format:
1st Line Name
2nd Line Address
3rd Line City, State and ZIP Code
33a- NPI Number Required  
33b- Other ID #   If the Provider Type is not able to obtain an NPI, enter the eight-digit Health First Colorado provider number of the individual or organization.

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Pediatric Personal Care Claim Example

Pediatric Personal Care Claim Example

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Timely Filing

For more information on timely filing policy, including the resubmission rules for denied claims, please see the General Provider Information manual available on the Billing Manuals web page under the General Provider Information drop-down menu.

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Pediatric Personal Care Specialty Manual Revisions Log

Revision Date Addition/Changes Made by
12/1/2016 Manual revised for interChange implementation. For manual revisions prior to 12/01/2016, please refer to Archive. HPE
12/27/2016 Updates based on Colorado iC Stage II Provider Billing Manual Comment Log v0_2.xlsx HPE
1/10/2017 Updates based on Colorado iC Stage Provider Billing Manual Comment Log v0_3.xlsx HPE
1/19/2017 Updates based on Colorado iC Stage Provider Billing Manual Comment Log v0_4.xlsx HPE
1/26/2017 Updates based on Department 1/20/2017 approval email HPE
6/27/2018 Updated billing information and timely filing, removed redundant information found in the General Provider Information manual HCPF
7/2/2018 Minor style and consistency edits DXC
12/21/2018 Clarification to signature requirements HCPF
3/18/2019 Clarification to signature requirements HCPF
1/22/2020 Converted to web page HCPF
9/14/2020 Added Line to Box 32 under the CMS 1500 Paper Claim Reference Table HCPF
12/11/20 Updated claims for PAR submission to 365 days from 120 HCPF