The online definition of Locums is a person who stands in temporarily for someone else of the same profession, especially a cleric or doctor. Locum tenens is Latin word that means “to hold the place.” There was confusion because the concept of Locum Tenens as a substitute physician was also a concept of how to bill for the services. When Medicare made a change and the billing concept’s name was changed to “fee for time compensation”. This name did not help lower the confusion. The facts of billing for a substitute physician didn’t change: Bill under the regular physician; only physicians can use the billing methodology of a fee for time arrangement; the arrangement is only for 180 days and other details.
The webinar will go into the details of who can use locum tenens or fee for time arrangements. How long they can last, how to bill for the services, what documentation is needed and other details of this unique arrangement that Medicare allows providers to utilize.
Webinar Objectives
- Locum Tenens is the concept of a substitute physician. For billing purposes there is a modifier that Medicare recognizes on claims that identifies this substitution
- Other carriers may not recognize this modifier which may create a payment problem for the billing and rendering physician.
- Other rules such as lists to keep and the timelines these substitute services can be held are important to understand for compliant use of this concept of one physician covering for another
- Researching other insurance payers is imperative in this process. Tips on how to do this and what documentation should be kept will be shared.
Webinar Highlights
- What is the fee for time compensation model of billing?
- Who can use this methodology when billing for locums services of a provider?
- How long can a physician act as a substitute ?
- Are there any exceptions to this duration?
- What information goes on a claim form to identify the situation?
- What documentation needs to be kept for these services?
- What types of providers can be locums?
Who Should Attend
Coders, Billers, Administrators, Physicians
What Do You Think About This Webinar?
