"We are wanting to go from our assigned provider days to doctor of record". I hope I can explain this well enough…. Currently we have two physicians (three in a few weeks), and they have providing doctor days (i.e. one has T/TH and the other M/F and they alternate W). The administration came to me and said, "WE want to go from providing doctor days to doctor of record" meaning, "our docs want to write orders and be the billing doctor of record for their patients". My dilemma is… administration wants ME to find where a physician can write an order on their patient and have it be standing until their procedure takes place. I work in a facility where patients are monitored several times a week/month before a procedure takes place. Often times the provider/ordering physician is NOT in the office due to illness, performing surgery elsewhere, or vacation. HOW would it be possible for a physician to write an order, have another physician change/update a treatment plan, and the ordering physician STILL get credit for the services billed?

Ethically, I am having a HUGE problem with this scenario! Where can I find information to state that a physician cannot write an ongoing order on a patient if a different physician reads, changes, or alters a care plan? I have looked on CMS and OIG, but perhaps my searches are to vague, because I am not finding what I am looking for.

ANY suggestions would help me and my comfort level!!!!

So…. EXAMPLE: can a provider write an order on their patient, leave for vacation, and have another physician give a treatment plan and it be billed under the ordering physician? Patient X came in for ultrasound and lab work today and it was determined by NOT ordering physician to increase Drug A and add Drug B to their protocol and return to the clinic on day 5? Can ORDERING provider get credit/bill for this case?

Thank you! My ethics are holding firm!

Michelle