Effective Date: January 1, 2009

Implementation Date: September 30, 2008

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, chapter 15 (Covered Medical and Other Health Services), section 80 (Requirements for Diagnostic X-Ray, Diagnostic Laboratory, and Other Diagnostic Tests) subsection 80.6.1 (Definitions); to incorporate language previously contained in section 15021 of the Medicare Carriers Manual, but inadvertently omitted when the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual was published.

Specifically, it notes that a physician’s signature is not required on orders for clinical diagnostic tests (including X-ray, laboratory, and other diagnostic tests) that are paid on the basis of the clinical laboratory fee schedule, the Medicare physician fee schedule, or for physician pathology services. While a physician order is not required to be signed, the physician must clearly document in the medical record his or her intent that the test be performed.

Here is the link to the MLN Matters article MM6100 .