Requests by HMS, Inc. for National Drug Codes

The HFMA Southern California Chapter describes new requests for National Drug Codes.

Hospitals are beginning to receive correspondence from HMS on behalf of DHCS requesting National Drug Codes (NDC) for drugs provided between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009. This time span is prior to the State requirement for hospitals to provide NDCs for services on submitted claims. It is before most hospitals implemented processes to capture this information accurately.

This issue was discussed at the recent CHA Payer Relations meeting in Sacramento on May 20th. Providers questioned the authority to make these requests and expressed the inability to comply accurately with these requests. Key representatives from HMS were in attendance as were key DHCS representatives.

These representatives explained that response to these requests were voluntary, although the sample letters did not indicate this fact. When providers asked if there would be negative repercussions if they responded that they were unable to comply with these requests, the answer from both HMS and DHCS was no. We discussed a general response on behalf of all CHA hospitals but the recommended approach was for individual responses from hospitals first and if problems occurred, then CHA could consider a general response.

If your hospital agrees that these requests are unreasonable and difficult if not impossible to respond to accurately, please consider sending a letter to HMS, copying both DHCS and CHA indicating this information and your intent to not provide the requested information.

Based on the information provided at CHA Payer Relations, these letters should be received and processed appropriately. If you experience any problems whatsoever, please bring them to the attention of Anne McLeod at CHA. If you have any questions regarding this discussion, please feel free to contact Greg Labow (562) 843-1510, Gerilynn Sevenikar (858) 499-4215 or Mary Ackley (916) 408-3092. Their respective e-mail addresses are glabow@roi-corp.com, gerilynn.sevenikar@sharp.com and ackleym@sutterhealth.org.