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Featured Practice Question

I received a fax request from an insurance provider to verify a patient's medical condition and to sign the medical supply order to verify that the patient does indeed require the supplies requested. I signed the form because my physician was out of town for two weeks. The insurer then returned the fax, stating that only an MD could sign it. Is that correct?

Regarding ordering supplies, this section from the BRN website describes the conditions under which NPs are permitted to order DME. The problem is that third party payers can require whatever they want to approve DME. You and your collaborating physician may want to bring this to the attention of the entity that is requiring the MD signature in order to facilitate a policy change.

Featured Legal Question

Can nursing corporations bill Medicare? I am looking at changing my business structure from sole proprietor to a corporation. I am aware that nursing corporations cannot pay physicians but my supervising physician may be more willing to do that than agree to having 51 percent of a medical corporation that I set up. I see no other options.

Medicare will pay you directly at 85 percent.  If you are only billing Medicare and Medi-Cal a nursing corporation is fine.  However, a medical corporation can also be set up with all of your interests protected.  Your decision should be made based on billing and payment to the physician more than anything else.

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