Wiki Incident to, billing Medicare

[dannimiller]

Can an LPC bill Medicare part B incident to, if an LCSW does the treatment plan, and signs off on all notes?
Can an LMSW bill Medicare part B incident to, if the supervising LCSW signs off on all notes?

 

[SharonCollachi]

First, "signing off on notes" has nothing to do with billing incident to.

Second, the state you are located in has a lot to do with whether or not this is okay. For instance, here is an incident-to billing guide for mental health specifically for New York State. In it, they state that LCSWs may NOT supervise anyone for incident to (which would render both of your scenarios unable to be billed). The LCSW or LMSW, however, can perform incident-to services for a psychologist or psychiatrist.

 

[dannimiller]

First, "signing off on notes" has nothing to do with billing incident to.

Second, the state you are located in has a lot to do with whether or not this is okay. For instance, here is an incident-to billing guide for mental health specifically for New York State. In it, they state that LCSWs may NOT supervise anyone for incident to (which would render both of your scenarios unable to be billed). The LCSW or LMSW, however, can perform incident-to services for a psychologist or psychiatrist.

That is the same way I was reading it for here in Texas. Just needed to clarify.
Thanks

 

[katy1]

For incident to Billing in California M.D. will be the billing NPI for the P.A. who saw patient. Does M.D. have to co-sign all the P.A.'s notes in order to be able to bill under the M.D.? Do other insurances allow incident to services billing? I am assuming the one's that follow medicare guidelines. Can anyone help please.

 

[SharonCollachi]

For incident to Billing in California M.D. will be the billing NPI for the P.A. who saw patient. Does M.D. have to co-sign all the P.A.'s notes in order to be able to bill under the M.D.? Do other insurances allow incident to services billing? I am assuming the one's that follow medicare guidelines. Can anyone help please.

The original question was specifically for mental health providers.

For your question, co-signing the notes has zero to do with billing incident-to. Have you checked out the incident-to guidelines? In an office setting (the only time incident-to applies), the MD has to see the patient first, establish a plan of care, and then the PA can follow that plan of care on the followup visits. There are other rules, but those are the basics.