locum tenens billing

we are urologists and have a radiation oncologist who is leaving 12/22/09. we need to get a locum tenens for a short period. can we bill under our urologists # for the 60 day period until we get another oncologist on board?

locum billing

No, you bill under the provider number of the physician who left the practice, not under the provider number of the physician still in the practice.

Search for the article on codapedia on locums by putting "locum" in the search box above "look it up."

locum billing

I got a conflicting answer from Medicare. If the physician is leaving the practice and not returning then we can't bill under his number. we have to bill under our group practice and use Q6 modifier and the locum NPI # in 24J . Do you agree or disagree?

Locum

For practices that have contracted with a locum tenens physician to provide services for the patients of a physician who voluntarily left the practice: The same rules apply as for a physician who is on sabbatical or vacation. Services should be reported with modifier –Q6, and the period of time cannot exceed 60 days,once the sixty (60) day period is over, the group can no longer bill under the former physician’s provider number If the departing physician has removed his credentials from the practice ID and location, you cannot bill under his name.

locum: whose provider number

Sometimes, the person answering questions at your carrier may not know the rules.

Look up the article entitled "locum tenens" in Codapedia. Under citations, there are two links. One is to the Medicare Claims Processing Manual. download Chapter 1 of 100-04, and look at section 30.2.11.

That is the source documentation.