Medicare Audit Guidelines for Provider Signatures

Medicare Signature Requirements

The purpose of a rendering/treating/ordering practitioner’s signature in patients’ medical records, operative reports, orders, test findings, etc., is to demonstrate the services have been accurately and fully documented, reviewed and authenticated. It confirms the provider has certified the medical necessity and reasonableness for the service(s) submitted to the Medicare program for payment consideration. For medical review purposes, Medicare requires that services provided/ordered be authenticated by the author.

Let’s define some terms first.

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