Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Do This for Docs With Signature Issues

Question: What can we do our surgeon’s signature is illegible?

Georgia Subscriber

Answer: You can send a signature log or attestation statement to support the identity of an illegible signature.

A signature log must include a typed entry of the provider’s name and credentials, plus a corresponding handwritten signature.

Don’t miss: You may include the signature log on the same page where the initial or illegible signature is located or in a separate document. Just make sure that the signature log is a part of the patient’s medical record.

Attestation statement: Another option for an illegible signature is to submit an attestation statement that includes the appropriate patient information. The author of the medical record entry must sign and date the attestation statement for Medicare to consider it valid.