Posted Saturday, June 5, 2021
CMS has issued Change Request 12222 which updates the Medicare General Information, Eligibility and Entitlement Manual, chapter 4- Physician Certification and Recertification of Services, sections 30 and 30.1 to include allowed practitioners (nurse practitioners, certified nurse specialists).
Specifically, section 30.1 has been revised to include allowed practitioners where the term “physician” appears and aligns CMS policy in this manual section with the policies in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 7, section 30.5.3 Who May Sign the Certification, that was revised by Change Request 12218.
These revisions clarify that the home health plan of care may be signed by another physician or allowed practitioner who is authorized by the certifying physician or certifying allowed practitioner who established the plan of care, to care for his/her patients in his/her absence.
The HHA is responsible for ensuring that the physician or allowed non-physician practitioner who signs the plan of care and recertification statement was authorized by the physician or allowed practitioner who established the plan of care and completed the certification for his/her patient in his/her absence.
Source: NAHC
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