What are the requirements for countersignature by the collaborating physician on prescriptions and documentation written by an APRN?
There is no state or national legal requirement for physician countersignature of nursing documentation. The Public Health Code Sections 333.17201-333.17242, 333.17001-333.17084 and 17708 do not require physician countersignature. The pharmacy section of the Public Health Code specifically states the delegating physician’s name must be “used, recorded or otherwise indicated” (Public Health Code Section 333.17708 #2) when prescriptions are being written by other licensed health professionals. The Public Health Code Sections 333.16104(1) – definition of delegation, 333.16109(2) – definition of supervision, and 333.16215(1) – linkage of delegation to supervision help in describing the roles/functions in a collaborative agreement. There is no mention of countersignature requirements. Third party payers have specific rules and requirements related to reimbursement and so the reader should be familiar with the rules and requirements of the specific third party payers involved.
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