foxparty
New
Has anyone ever had a Medicare denial because a progress note did not have a original physician signature?
-
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ & read the forum rules. To view all forums, post or create a new thread, you must be an AAPC Member. If you are a member and have already registered for member area and forum access, you can log in by clicking here. If you've forgotten your username or password use our password reminder tool. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below..
Wiki Signature requirements
- Thread starter foxparty
- Start date
cpccoder2008
True Blue
what do you mean by original ?
foxparty
New
Our transcriptionists type the physician name but the physician is not actually signing the document. I've been told that we should have the physician sign every document but I never had any denials for this reason.
RebeccaWoodward*
True Blue
Medicare will accept hand written, electronic signatures or facsimiles of original written or electronic signatures.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0829.pdf
Simply typing the physicians name doesn't meet the requirements. Unless Medicare reviews every record transcribed, you wouldn't have on-going denials. I am assuming they requested a medical record and denied it for this reason?
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0829.pdf
Simply typing the physicians name doesn't meet the requirements. Unless Medicare reviews every record transcribed, you wouldn't have on-going denials. I am assuming they requested a medical record and denied it for this reason?
signature question for medicare
understanding written signatures are acceptable. What is the policy for the legability? I review progress notes that have the physician name at top but then the signature is illegible or maybe just a line. And if I'm able to somewhat read the name I cannot determine the credential in the squiggle.
Secondly, what if the physician name and credential is not listed legibly on the note and just have the provider's signature - again all or part of the name is legible but can't read the credential.
Where can I go on-line to view such a policy?
Thank you
understanding written signatures are acceptable. What is the policy for the legability? I review progress notes that have the physician name at top but then the signature is illegible or maybe just a line. And if I'm able to somewhat read the name I cannot determine the credential in the squiggle.
Secondly, what if the physician name and credential is not listed legibly on the note and just have the provider's signature - again all or part of the name is legible but can't read the credential.
Where can I go on-line to view such a policy?
Thank you
RebeccaWoodward*
True Blue
My "soon to be" new contractor, has a detailed policy....
Signature's Purpose
Medicare requires the individual who ordered/provided services be clearly identified in the medical records. The signature for each entry must be legible and should include the practitioner's first and last name. For clarification purposes, we recommend you include your applicable credentials, e.g., P.A., D.O., or M.D.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto...cles~General~4F7306D58E6F67E2852575AD0049D41B
Signature's Purpose
Medicare requires the individual who ordered/provided services be clearly identified in the medical records. The signature for each entry must be legible and should include the practitioner's first and last name. For clarification purposes, we recommend you include your applicable credentials, e.g., P.A., D.O., or M.D.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto...cles~General~4F7306D58E6F67E2852575AD0049D41B
FTessaBartels
Guest
Signature sheet
We keep a master signature sheet where each provider's name, provider #, credential is printed and then s/he signs "as you would sign a note." We assign an internal provider number (just 5 digits), and we ask that providers (MD, DO, PA, NP, etc) both sign and add their number. Even those with terrible writing can manage to legibly include their number.
This allows our chart abstractors to "decipher" the signatures accurately, and also gives us additional "proof" in an audit that this is truly Dr X's signature. (Of course, we are a pediatric practice so have virtually no Medicare patients.)
Hope that helps,
F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC
We keep a master signature sheet where each provider's name, provider #, credential is printed and then s/he signs "as you would sign a note." We assign an internal provider number (just 5 digits), and we ask that providers (MD, DO, PA, NP, etc) both sign and add their number. Even those with terrible writing can manage to legibly include their number.
This allows our chart abstractors to "decipher" the signatures accurately, and also gives us additional "proof" in an audit that this is truly Dr X's signature. (Of course, we are a pediatric practice so have virtually no Medicare patients.)
Hope that helps,
F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC