Wiki Medicare billing and Nurse Practitioners

LanaW

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Medicare billing and Nurse Practioners

Is there any type ruling that a physician has to see a patient at any time during their continued care with a practice, if this patient is Medicare? In other words, can the NP provide care for all dates of service after the first initial establishment? Thanks
 
I believe that you are correct if it's in an office setting. If the physician has seen the patient, the the NP can then provide services from there on. I believe that each state has guidelines on how often the physician has to review the NP's documentation.
 
An NP must bill under their Medicare number if they see New Patients or Established Patients with New Problems. In order for the NP to bill incident-to the physician, the physician has to have seen that patient for the condition and documented that the patient can follow-up with the NP. If during that follow-up visit a new problem arises, the NP must bill under their own number or have the physician step in. When a physician is not involved the NP can see the patient as long as it is within their scope of care, they bill under their own number. Member7 is correct that states may have their own additional guidelines as well.
 
It was also my understanding that NP cannot give prescriptions for any new medications or change the patients care plan without the physician examining and reviewing the NP documentation and agreeing with the change. Is this correct do you have any insite to this comment.

Elizabeth
 
NP

I Work In An Internal Med Office And Have 2 Nps. In The State Of Va. They Are Not Required To Check With The Phsicians. They Can Have Their Own Patients That They Solely Follow. They Can Even Have Their Own Offices. Hope This Helps. Thanks

Nicole Wessell, Cpc
 
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