Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
Reader Question:
Take Note of Who Can Supervise Allergy Shots
Published on Tue Aug 23, 2011 
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Question:
Answer:
No, a nurse cannot give that allergy shot. The supervision requirements is direct, which means a physician must be in the office suite before a patient can be administered allergy shots -- not necessarily the patient's physician, but a physician.Yes, an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) can typically supervise. A nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA) credentialed with Medicare with a national provider identifier (NPI) is qualified to provide direct supervision for allergy shots. You would bill under the NPI of the PA or NP who is present in the office when the service takes place.
Careful:
Do not bill the allergy shot as an incident service, under the physician's NPI, the claim must be billed under the nonphysician provider's NPI who is providing the direct supervision. In addition, pay attention to state laws, which dictate each practitioner's scope of practice.Other Articles in this issue of
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Take Note of Who Can Supervise Allergy Shots
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