When a patient is being seen incident to the physician by a non-physician practitioner, is there a requirement the physician sees the patient every 3rd visit?
There is guidance in the CMS Manuals stating the physician should see the patient receiving “incident to” services at a frequency to stay current of the patient’s status: ” where the physician performs an initial service and subsequent services of a frequency which reflect his/her active participation in and management of the course of treatment. (However, the direct supervision requirement must still be met with respect to every nonphysician service).” See CMS Publication 100-2, the Medicare Benefits Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 50.1 for the above. Previously, an article published in the July-August 2001 issue of the Medicare Bulletin advised that if the qualified employee performing “incident to” services is ” not a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse midwife, or a certified registered nurse anesthetist, the physician/practitioner must perform the initial service and they should perform subsequent services at a frequency of
Related Questions
- When the collaborating physician sees a patient after the nurse practitioner and then bills, does the MD/DOs note suffice to say: seen and examined as above, agree with treatment plan as outlined?
- When a patient is being seen incident to the physician by a non-physician practitioner, is there a requirement the physician sees the patient every 3rd visit?
- After an initial visit, what role should the physician have in a Medicare patients ongoing care while the PA see the patient "incident to?
