As the compliance officer for Compliance & Auditing Services, I receive questions from chiropractic physicians from all over the country on chiropractic compliance.
This question came to me from a doctor in Florida looking for guidance regarding office coverage. Dr. Jonathan asked, “If I have a doc covering my office that is not in-network when I am out of the office can I still bill under my license/insurance participation? I’m asking about Medicare as well.”
This isn’t the first time I have been asked this question, so to help the other doctors who follow this site for compliance information, here is the answer to the question on locum tenens doctors.
It is a general practice for physicians to retain substitute physicians to take over their professional practices when the regular physicians are absent for reasons such as illness, pregnancy, vacation, or continuing education.
These substitute physicians are generally referred to as “locum tenens” physicians and the regular physician generally pays the substitute physician a fixed amount per diem, with the substitute physician having the status of an independent contractor rather than of an employee.
Medicare and many third-party payers do allow physicians to bill for services performed by locum tenens physicians during their absence and for the regular physician to bill and receive payment for the substitute physician’s services as though he/she performed them.
Under Section 125(b) of the Social Security Act, a regular physician may bill for the services of a locum tenens physicians if:
- The regular physician is unavailable to provide the services.
- The Medicare beneficiary has arranged for or seeks to receive the visit services from the regular physician.
- The regular physician pays the locum tenens for his/her services on a per diem or similar fee-for-time basis. You cannot pay a locum a salary or have a revenue based incentive payment agreement.
- The locum physician does not provide or bill for services to Medicare patients over a continuous period of longer than 60 days.
Billing Procedures:
Medicare requires claims for services provided by a locum physician to include the Q6 modifier, which designates services were performed by alocum tenens physician, in box 24D of the CMS-1500 form. The regular physician’s provider identification number goes in box 24J.
Regarding all other insurance carriers, the billing procedures would typically be the same, as most carriers follow the same guidelines set forth by Medicare. It is important that you review the contract that you have with each insurance carrier that you are contracted with to make sure of their individual policies for locum physicians.
If you need a question answered or need help with office compliance, Compliance & Auditing Services is here to help. The certified specialist at Compliance & Auditing Services help chiropractors handle compliance issues and you set up a compliance program that meets all state and federal laws with confidence.
If you have any questions about Locum Tenens or chiropractic compliance leave a comment or just call us.
