Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) are reporting indicating they have had an increase in Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) audit errors due to physician signature errors, including missing signatures on orders and chart notes. CERT audits MACs by reviewing practice documentation. This can lead to additional audit reviews from each MAC, and, of course, recoupments.

Remember that National Government Services (NGS) accepts only the following types of signatures:

• A legible full signature
• A legible first initial and last name
• An illegible signature over a typed or printed name
• An illegible signature where the letterhead other information on the page indicates the identity of the signatory
• An illegible signature not over a typed/printed name, but accompanied by a signature log or an attestation statement
• Initials over a typed or printed name
• An unsigned handwritten note, where other entries on the same page in the same handwriting are signed

Access the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services fact sheet for more signature guidelines.