I find it ironic that Medicare wants manual signatures and non-stamped dates
I can't find the post, but recently I think either Wendell or Leslie posted the CMS regulation about stamped versus electronic signatures & dates. Bottom line,
electronic signatures & dates are not prohibited.
We were getting frequent rejections of our electronically signed/dated documents by "jerk-clerks" at the various pharmacies & DME companies, until we added the following statement to our fax cover sheet:
Please note that signatures and dates on the attached documents are ELECTRONICALLY GENERATED uniquely by the physician, and are not stamped or templated.
Please do not contact us that "Medicare requires handwritten signatures or dates" This is simply not true; the only restriction is date may not be stamped. Electronic or typed is not addressed:
Reference: CMS Manual System, Pub. 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3, section 3.4.1.1.B (ht
tp://www.cms.gov/transmittals/downloads/R281PI.pdf)
5.3.1 ?? Completing a CMN or DIF (Rev.281, Issued: 281, Effective: 02-02-09, Implementation: 02-02-09)
The "Initial Date" found in Section A of the CMN, should be either the specific date that the physician gives as the start of the medical necessity or, if the physician does not give a specific start date, the "Initial Date" would be the date of the order. The "Signature Date" is the date the physician signed and dated Section D of the CMN. This date might not be the same as the "Initial Date", since the "Signature Date" must indicate when the physician signed Section D of the CMN. Medicare requires a legible identifier for services provided/ordered. The method used shall be handwritten or an electronic signature in accordance with chapter 3, section 3.4.1.1 to sign an order or other medical record documentation for medical review purposes. Signature and date stamps are not acceptable for use on CMNs and DIFs.
