03/20/2014
Locum Tenens
The phrase “Locum Tenens” means “place holder” in Latin, and refers to a substitute physician. Locum Tenens physicians are used when the regular physician is away for vacation, illness, seminar attendance, or any other reason.
One of the major causes of brown-out or burn-out for Chiropractic Physicians is a lack of time away from the practice. ChiroConsultants provides qualified Doctors of Chiropractic to serve as short-term or long-term Locum Tenens. ChiroConsultants also provides proof of current licensure and malpractice insurance, a fee schedule, and a written agreement between the substitute and regular physician.
Rather than closing your practice during your absence or referring patients to a friend down the road, maintain a full schedule with a competent Locum Tenens. Even if you are in a group practice, you may avoid scheduling patients when you are away because you don’t want to over-burden your partner who already has a busy schedule. Maintain a full schedule, don’t miss any new patients, cover your overhead, and enjoy your time away. Call 402-413-5552 today to schedule coverage for your practice.
All services provided by a Locum Tenens are billed under the regular physician’s NPI and any other associated provider numbers. The Locum Tenens usually does not have to be a provider of the same insurance panels as the regular physician. The substitute physician’s status is that of independent contractor, not an employee, and is paid on a per diem or fee-for-time basis.
Medicare allows Locum Tenens to provide services up to 60 days. The regular physician identifies the Locum Tenens’ services with modifier Q6 (services provided by a locum tenens physician). The regular physician must keep on file a record of each service along with the substitute physician’s NPI. This record should be available to Medicare if it is requested, but does not have to be routinely provided. It is not necessary to provide the substitute physician’s NPI on the claim form. For more detailed information from CMS, go to the following link:
http://www.wpsmedicare.com/j5macpartb/claims/submission/locum-tenens-reciprocal-billing-qanda.shtml
Locum Tenens/Reciprocal Billing Questions and Answers
