Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: I-ve heard that some offices use physician signature stamps. Is this legal?


Washington Subscriber

Answer: The answer really depends on your state laws. Several states do allow offices to use physician signature stamps or even e-signatures, but there are usually stringent guidelines. Usually, there must be policies and controls in place to ensure that no one but the signer has access to the stamp itself. Before your office decides to switch over, consider the following:

- Check your state laws. To find out about state laws, ask your practice's attorney or check with your state's Department of Commerce. Also, check with the Board of Medicine to see if there are specific laws governing medical records or insurance claims.

- Check your carriers- guidelines. Just because your state allows signature alternatives, that doesn't mean your carriers will pay for services that don't have the physician's handwritten signature on them. Some carriers hold that if a doctor has someone else stamping his notes, there is no evidence he directly reviews his reports and stays current on his patients- status.

Beware: There are also several types of possible misuse to consider before switching to signature alternatives, including forged check signatures or forged prescriptions. And remember that a single proven misuse of a signature stamp can undermine the credibility and validity of the signature on all of your medical records.

Clinical and coding expertise for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions provided by Eric Sandhusen, CHC, CPC, director of compliance for the Columbia University department of surgery.