Wiki Can we bill somehow?

[twilson@fmchosp.com]

We have a physician who left our practice without signing his office notes. Are we just out all of those charges or is there something we can do? Thanks for your help.

 

[Michele Hannon]

The link describes the Medicare signature requirements:
http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Edu...gnature_Requirements_Fact_Sheet_ICN905364.pdf

 

[twilson@fmchosp.com]

What about charging a nurse visit (99211) since the nurses documented everything they did and can sign off on their part?

 

[mitchellde]

No a 99211 is not a nurse visit it is a physician encounter that the physician is allowed to charge when other qualified health persons are seeing the patient face to face per the providers orders from a previous encounter. The provider would still need to have signed off on the documentation

 

[lcarson]

I agreee... a 99211 would be inappropriate without a provider signature/oversight. I would encourage you to check with your local Medicare carrier and/or your legal representative to inquire about any recourse you may have (they may allow another provider to co-sign an attestation for those services or make other recommendations). I know there have been exceptions in the past (ie, when a provider has died suddenly, etc ) so hopefully your local MAC will be able to help you out. Providing you've done everything possible to obtain the outgoing provider's signatures, I would also recommend contacting your state medical licensing agency and file a complaint against that individual. Hope this helps...