What are the rules for locum tenens?

What are the rules for locum tenens?

Locum tenens occurs when the substitute physician covers for the regular physician during absences not to exceed a period of 90 continuous days. Reciprocal billing occurs when substitute physicians cover the regular physicians during absences and/or on an on-call basis not to exceed a period of 14 continuous days.

How do you bill for locum tenens physician?

Billing for Locum Tenens Locum tenens physicians may not bill Medicare; they should be paid on a per diem or similar fee-for-time basis. Claims payment is made under the name and billing number of the physician or the practice (in the event the physician has left the practice) that hired the locum tenens physician.

What is the time limit for billing locum tenens?

60 days
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has stated that a locum tenens physician can provide services to Medicare patients over a continuous period of no longer than 60 days.

What is the modifier for locum tenens?

Q6 modifier
As illustrated below, Medicare requires claims for services provided by a locum tenens physician to include the Q6 modifier, which designates services were performed by a locum tenens physician, in box 24D of the CMS-1500 form. The regular physician’s provider identification number goes in box 24J.

How long can a locum work?

It varies from assignment to assignment, but most locum assignments last between two weeks and two months, depending upon the situation and need. Physicians select the assignment length that suits their interests. In some cases, locum tenens physicians receive permanent offers from their assigned facility.

How do you bill incident to services?

Billing. Services rendered ‘incident to’ a physician’s service should be billed under the employing physician’s NPI , or in the case of a physician directed clinic the supervising physician’s , and are reimbursed as if the physician performed the service (no modifier required).

Can a physician assistant be a locum tenens?

As a locum tenens physician assistant, you work a temporary assignment anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. You handle clinical responsibilities and patient load when a physician assistant is on vacation, maternity leave, or during a time when more workers are necessary.

Do you have to credential locum tenens?

Just like any medical professional job, though, it does require paperwork to start. One of the most popular questions we get about working locum is: Do locum tenens providers need to be credentialed? The short answer is yes.

What is a 26 modifier used for?

Generally, Modifier 26 is appended to a procedure code to indicate that the service provided was the reading and interpreting of the results of a diagnostic and/or laboratory service.

Are locum tenens employees?

In the same vein as independent contractors, locum tenens workers are contract employees who fill a role on a temporary basis; the term locum tenens literally translates to ‘to hold a place’.

Why is locum tenens?

Locum tenens lets you test drive a position with the potential for permanent placement, check out a new area before making a big move, and gain worthwhile experience in a new subspecialty area.

How do I bill incident to Medicare?

If so, how will CMS know the billing is incident-to? A: According to Medicare’s National Coverage Determination (NCD), Incident to a Physician’s Professional Service in the Office or Clinic, “When billing incident to services, the claim should be submitted as if the physician personally performed the service. “