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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently
announced that stamped signatures are no longer acceptable on any
medical record. They state this step has been taken to ensure
accurate application of Medicare's program requirements throughout
the nation. CMS has identified problems of noncompliance with
existing statutes, regulations, rules, and other systematic problems
relating to standards of practice for a valid physician's signature
on medical orders and related medical documents.
CR 5971 (Transmittal #248) was issued to prohibit the use of stamped
signatures. These requirements are intended to apply to all
providers/suppliers.
Medicare will accept hand written, electronic signatures, or
facsimiles of original written or electronic signatures. In
addition, the Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoP) are
requirements for ensuring health and safety. The CoPs define
specific quality standards that providers must meet to participate
in the Medicare program. A provider's compliance with the CoPs is
ultimately determined by the CMS regional office based on the State
survey agency recommendation (per the Medicare Program Integrity
Manual, Publication 100-8, Chapter 3, Section 3.4.2.1, which is
available
here. Compliance with the CoPs and any related policies does not
necessarily ensure that certain requirements for payment are being
met.
The official instruction, CR 5971, issued to your carrier, FI, A/B
MAC, and DME MAC regarding this change may be viewed
here.
If you have any questions, please contact your carrier, FI, A/B MAC,
or DME MAC at their toll-free number. Numbers are listed
alphabetically by state
here. SOURCE: APMA Daily eNews, #2,639
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