Billing for Total Parenteral Nutrition and Enteral Nutrition Furnished to Part B Inpatients

Inpatient Part A hospital or SNF care includes total parenteral nutrition (TPN) systems and enteral nutrition (EN).

For inpatients for whom Part A benefits are not payable (e.g., benefits are exhausted or the beneficiary is entitled to Part B only), total parenteral nutrition (TPN) systems and enteral nutrition (EN) delivery systems are covered by Medicare as prosthetic devices when the coverage criteria are met. When these criteria are met, the medical equipment and medical supplies (together with nutrients) being used comprise covered prosthetic devices for coverage purposes rather than durable medical equipment. However, reimbursement rules relating to DME continue to apply to such items.

When a facility supplies TPN or EN systems that meet the criteria for coverage as a prosthetic device to an inpatient whose care is not covered under Part A, the facility must bill one of the DME MACs. Additionally, HHAs, SNFs, and hospitals that provide PEN supplies, equipment and nutrients as a prosthetic device under Part B must use the ASC X12 837 professional claim format or if permissible the Form CMS-1500 paper form to bill the appropriate DME MAC. The DME MAC is determined according to the residence of the beneficiary. Refer to §10 for jurisdiction descriptions.

A/B MACs (A and HHH) return claims containing PEN charges for Part B services where the bill type is 12x, 13x, 22x, 23x, 32x, 33x, or 34x with instructions to the provider to bill the DME MAC.

Billing for Total Parenteral Nutrition and Enteral Nutrition

All providers and suppliers billing for parenteral and enteral nutrition covered as a Part B prosthetic device benefit bill the DMERCs. Medicare pays for no more than a one-month supply of parenteral or enteral nutrients for any one prospective billing period. Claims submitted retroactively may include multiple months.