ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Answers to 2 common signature questions help ensure you're on track.Including provider signatures is a basic documentation requirement for your patient charts, but can also be a daily challenge for ED coders trying to get busy providers to sign on the dotted line each time.Check your answers against our experts' advice to verify your group's signature compliance.Pay Attention to Medicare Signature CriteriaQuestion 1: Some of our physicians use handwritten signatures on their charts and others prefer electronic signatures. Is either kind acceptable?Answer 1: According to CMS documents, "Medicare requires a legible identifier for services provided/ordered." That "identifier" -- or signature -- can be electronic or handwritten, as long as the provider meets certain criteria.Legible first and last names, a legible first initial with last name, or even an illegible signature over a printed or typed name are acceptable. You're also covered if the provider's signature is illegible but is on a page [...]