In case you missed it in the August (K)notes session, today is kind of a big deal in the world of detailed written orders.
Beginning August 28, 2018, regardless of who created the order, detailed orders need only to establish a single “date of the order”. Previously, detailed written orders required both a start date and an order date.
According to new instructions, the date of the order should be “...the dispensing order date, i.e., the date the supplier was contacted by the prescribing physician (for verbal orders) or the date entered by the prescribing physician (for written dispensing orders).” The directive further clarifies that, so long as the written order is dated on or before the day of delivery, suppliers do not need to separately document affirmative receipt (e.g., fax stamp date).
Physicians must continue to sign and date their signature entries. The change permits the supplier to use the signature date on written orders to satisfy the order date requirement without a separate need for the supplier to populate a redundant “start date” or require another date on the form. The only time a supplier would need to populate the order date would be for verbal orders, which are not frequently relied upon for delivery purposes in most DME practices.
CMS originally scheduled the changes to take effect on August 7, 2018. Transmittal 812 included a few minor edits, replaced Transmittal 806, and updated the effective date to August 28, 2018.
Suppliers should modify existing procedures and forms to eliminate duplicative or unnecessary steps, encourage consistency, and ensure compliance.
If you have any questions, give us a shout.
SOURCE LINKS
https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/2018Downloads/R812PI.pdf
Beginning August 28, 2018, regardless of who created the order, detailed orders need only to establish a single “date of the order”. Previously, detailed written orders required both a start date and an order date.
According to new instructions, the date of the order should be “...the dispensing order date, i.e., the date the supplier was contacted by the prescribing physician (for verbal orders) or the date entered by the prescribing physician (for written dispensing orders).” The directive further clarifies that, so long as the written order is dated on or before the day of delivery, suppliers do not need to separately document affirmative receipt (e.g., fax stamp date).
Physicians must continue to sign and date their signature entries. The change permits the supplier to use the signature date on written orders to satisfy the order date requirement without a separate need for the supplier to populate a redundant “start date” or require another date on the form. The only time a supplier would need to populate the order date would be for verbal orders, which are not frequently relied upon for delivery purposes in most DME practices.
CMS originally scheduled the changes to take effect on August 7, 2018. Transmittal 812 included a few minor edits, replaced Transmittal 806, and updated the effective date to August 28, 2018.
Suppliers should modify existing procedures and forms to eliminate duplicative or unnecessary steps, encourage consistency, and ensure compliance.
If you have any questions, give us a shout.
SOURCE LINKS
https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/2018Downloads/R812PI.pdf