Billing and NPs

[Mijourney]

If an NP bills under a physician's number, does this mean that the physician supervised them on that office visit? Can a NP bill under a physician's number without that physician being within vicinity?

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

hello mijourney,

in my area, the np can bill under the physician's number. no, it does not mean the physician is supervising. yes, the np can bill without the physician in the vicinity.

in my area.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

best advice i've seen --really understands medicare rules--- is from carolyn burppert rn, jd; posts to medscape and has own website.

billing for nurse practitioner services

learn the basics for billing np services, including. ... can be reached at http://www.buppert.com. medscape nurses 4(1), 2002. © 2002 medscape portals, inc ...

www.medscape.com/viewarticle/422935

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

thank you, nrskarenrn, for the links and the information.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

If an NP bills under a physician's number, does this mean that the physician supervised them on that office visit? Can a NP bill under a physician's number without that physician being within vicinity?

In my area no. The Physician does not have to be present. We have to branches to our office and on one we only have a doctor there on Mondays, tuesdays, and wednesday mornings (FNP's by themselves the rest of the week). But they can still bill out.

[Mijourney]

Then I guess my question is that if physicians are not supervising the NP but the NP is using the physician's number to bill with isn't that a problem that could lead to chart audits? It would seem to me that the NP would bill under their own number if they don't require supervision from the physician. I don't mean to be difficult but what is the benefit of billing under the physician's number if they are not supervising the NP?