If the signatures of ordering physicians or non-physician practitioners aren’t legible or done correctly, Medicare may not pay for lab tests.
Medicare won’t pay for lab tests or other services unless the ordering physician or non-physician practitioner (NPP) legibly signs or marks a document authenticating his/her knowledge, approval, acceptance, or obligation to the services provided. If the signature is illegible or just initialed rather than signed, the medical reviewer may refuse to pay for the associated test. One of the things your lab can do to guard against such denials is to create a signature log that the medical reviewer can use to identify any illegible signatures or initials.
A signature log lists the typed or printed name of the author associated with particular initials or a signature that’s illegible. It should also list the person’s credentials, e.g., M.D. or D.O. You can include the signature log on the actual page where the illegible signature or initials appear or as a separate document. Here’s a signature log template that you can adapt for your own use.
