The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is instructing Medicare contractors to hold certain outpatient prospective payment system claims for screening pap smears until Jan. 5, 2009 due to a problem with the Outpatient Code Editor software. Effective immediately, claims containing Healthcare Common Procedure Coding system code Q0091 will be held due to OCE issues related to an incorrect deductible and coinsurance assignment, CMS said. The claims will be held by contractors until corrections to the OCE are implemented on Jan. 5. Until then, CMS said OPPS facilities may choose not to use the code on claims that include other services to avoid a delay in reimbursement. Interest will be paid on clean claims held longer than 30 days after the date of receipt.