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Featured Practice Question

Is it OK for an NP to be in an urgent care facility as a provider when the physician is not in the facility but available by phone?

Yes, NPs are able to practice independent of a physician presence in an urgent care or other office setting. You need to confirm that you have national certification and are enrolled with Medicare so you are able to bill independently as well. If your facility is billing “incident to” the physician must be present in the same department with the NP.

Featured Legal Question

I own my own pediatric house call business. I have been approached three times by MDs asking who my collaborating MD is? After much researching, I don’t see that it is required by anyone to post who my MD is. For example, I don’t post it on my Facebook page, business flyers, business cards or website. I am afraid these MDs will hassle my MD to not support me. It is hard enough getting an MD for an NP-owned business as is. Any suggestions?

What kind of business entity are you in? Corporation? LLC? If you have a Medical Corporation, the physician, by law, has to have his/her name in advertisements. Do you pay your physician for collaborating? If you do, it must be corporate-to-corporate or from a Medical Corporation. It is recommended that NPs always name their physician in any advertisements, on Facebook, etc. It cuts down BRN complaints. Once someone files a complaint against you, the BRN will do everything in its power to find you guilty of something. The BRN is not NP friendly. So, the question becomes, are you willing to risk an investigation? Physicians are the number one complainants. If they see a collaborating physician name, they tend to leave you alone.

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