CMS: Non-physicians may document inpatient services orders
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week issued guidance interpreting its new requirements for admission and medical review criteria for hospital inpatient services under Medicare Part A. The five-page document clarifies the types of practitioners who may furnish orders for inpatient services and the types of information that must be included in those orders, the American Hospital Association (AHA) reported. Specifically, CMS indicates that the order may be documented by an individual who is not a physician – such as physician assistants, residents or registered nurses – provided the documentation is consistent with state law, hospital policies, and medical staff bylaws and rules.
“The order must be furnished by a physician or other practitioner (‘ordering practitioner’) who is: (a) licensed by the state to admit inpatients to hospitals, (b) granted privileges by the hospital to admit inpatients to that specific facility, and (c) knowledgeable about the patient’s hospital course, medical plan of care, and current condition at the time of admission,” a September 5 CMS guidance document stated.