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This study category includes studies being conducted under an IDE that have been designated as significant risk. In addition to the FDA regulations, CMS has specific billing rules if you plan to bill the device or any routine services associated with the study to the patient (see Deemed and Qualifying worksheet instructions below).

UNC requires completion of the BCA workbook if there are any Epic generated charges regardless of funder or payer. If your study is not a CTRC study (see CTRC category above) and you do not have any Epic generated charges, please send the OCT an email (aneiring@email.unc.edu) indicating you have no Epic billing for your study. Please refer to the chart below to determine which BCA worksheets are required for your study:

Who will pay for procedures and services listed in the protocol of your research study?

PayerDefinitionRequired BCA Worksheets
Bill to sponsor only.Procedures/Services are being done for research purposes only and all will be paid for by the research sponsor.

  • Instructions

  • Coverage Analysis

Bill to sponsor and patientʼs insurance.

BCA Fee Required: $2,000.00 (Except for Federally funded studies.)
Procedures/Services are being done for a mix of research and routine care purposes only.

This may include procedures/services which are done for research purposes or for routine purposes that are paid for by the sponsor or the patientʼs insurance.

  • Instructions

  • Deemed & Qualifying

  • Coverage Analysis

Bill to patientʼs insurance only.All procedures/services are routine care.

  • Instructions

  • Deemed & Qualifying

There is nothing to bill.Study team effort only, no billable procedures/services.BCA Worksheet completion is not required.

HELPFUL HINT: To avoid delay in obtaining account number, email “no Epic billing” and CRMS# to aneiring@email.unc.edu.

Instructions worksheet is required. Enter the requested information. Protocol version number and date refer to the version itself (1, 1.2, etc) not the IRB or sponsor study number. If there is none specified, enter “n/a”.

Deemed and qualifying worksheet is required if you intend to bill the patient for routine costs associated with the study. Medicare rules and regulations apply. Documentation of qualified status is determined by completing the bottom section of this worksheet. You do NOT have to complete the top or center sections of the worksheet.

CMS lists all IDE studies that have been approved for billing on their website (link in BCA worksheet). If you do not find your protocol on this website, it is NOT approved for billing. Contact the sponsor for information on whether they intend to submit for approval. If not, you CANNOT bill for any items or services. If the PI holds the IDE, s/he will have to submit to CMS for approval to bill routine items and services: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coverage/IDE/index.html.

Assistance with IDE submissions can be found at:

https://tracs.unc.edu/index.php/services/regulatory/ind-and-ide-application-support/investigational-device-exemptions

Note: If the IDE was initially approved prior to January 1, 2015, please contact Daniel Wayland (Daniel.Wayland@unchealth.unc.edu) for assistance with submitting for approval to bill routine items and services to the Medicare Administrative Contractor for NC, Palmetto GBA.

If the sponsor/funder is paying for all study related services, you do not have to complete this worksheet.

Coverage Analysis worksheet is required if you have services billed through Epic to the study account, or if you have both study-billed and patient-billed services through Epic. If all charges are billed to the patient, you do not have to complete this worksheet, but you MUST complete the other 2 worksheets.

CRMS & BCA Training and OnCore Training slides, detailed instructions for completing the BCA workbook, and Hospital IDE policy information can be found on Research Central Quick References:

For New Staff:

  • Research Administration:
    • Research Administration Handout
    • CRMS & BCA Training
    • OnCore Training Slides

Billing Coverage Analysis:

  • Billing Coverage Analysis Instructions
  • BCA on SharePoint

Other Materials:

  • IDE Billing Process
  • Investigational Device Policy