UAB Synopsis, Vol. 28, No. 25, June 29, 2009
In recent years the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (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.
Now CMS has issued guidance as part of its Medicare payment policy as to what it considers to be a valid physician/provider signature.
Medicare now requires a handwritten or an electronic signature (stamp signatures are no longer acceptable) to sign an order or other medical record documentation for medical review purposes. If records are reviewed to determine appropriate payment for service (eg, Recovery Audit Contractors program, prepayment and/or postpayment reviews), Medicare auditors have been instructed to deny payment or request a refund of amounts paid for services supported by medical records (ie, orders, progress notes, etc) signed with a signature stamp.
The University of Alabama Health Services Foundation Office of Corporate Compliance recommends that the use of signature stamps be prohibited and discontinued for all medical record documentation. Address questions and requests for additional information to Corporate Compliance Officer Brian T. Bates, CPA, CHC. Click on the following links for CMS guidance on signature compliance: