Billing guideline for resident physicians, locum tenens provider

SERVICES PROVIDED BY NON-PHYSICIANS AND RESIDENT PHYSICIANS

A. All non-physicians, who are defined as eligible providers under the member’s BCBSKS contract and who are providing services as defined in their Kansas licensure or certification, shall bill their charges to BCBSKS under their own National Provider Identifier (NPI) or specific performing provider number, if applicable. The name of the ordering provider, when applicable, (including NPI, except when exempt by law) must appear on every claim.

B. A physician may bill for the services of a licensed nurse, other than an APRN, if there is an employer/employee relationship and the services are supervised by the physician (supervision means the patient recognizes the supervising physician as his/her physician and there is a periodic review of the records by the physician). These services must be an integral part of the physician's professional service, included in the physician's bill, and be of the type that are commonly furnished in the physician's office or clinic.

C. Independently practicing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who are providing services as defined in their Kansas licensure or certification, shall bill their charges to BCBSKS under their own NPI or specific performing provider number. The name of the ordering provider, when applicable, (including NPI, except when exempt by law) must appear on every claim.

D. Services of a Resident Physician are billed under the attending Faculty Physician’s NPI or specific performing provider number if done in connection with the Residency Program.

E. If the Resident Physician is providing services outside of the Residency Program, all Blue Shield Policy Memos apply and services shall be billed under his/her own NPI or specific performing provider number.

F. BCBSKS will not pay for any services performed and billed by an independent provider who does not meet applicable state or national licensure registration or certification requirements to perform that service or who is not defined as an eligible provider in the member’s contract.

G. BCBSKS will not pay for outpatient services connected with a nervous and mental diagnosis when provided by an unlicensed provider, or a licensed provider with a licensure other than designated in the member’s contract as eligible to provide nervous and mental benefits. Supervision of an unlicensed provider, a licensed counselor, or one not designated as eligible in the member’s contract does not constitute a service being rendered by an eligible provider. The exception to this would be if the service was rendered through a state licensed alcohol or drug abuse treatment facility, a hospital, psychiatric hospital, or a community mental health center. Eligible non-physician psychiatric providers include APRNs, certified psychologists, licensed specialist clinical social workers, licensed clinical marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical professional counselors, and licensed clinical psychotherapists.

XIX. LOCUM TENENS PROVIDER

In situations in which the regular provider is unavailable, a locum tenens can be used to provide a visit/service. The locum tenens must be the same type of provider as for whom the locum is substituting (for example, a physician can only authorize another physician as a locum tenens, an APRN/PA can only authorize another APRN/PA, etc.) and the locum tenens must be licensed in Kansas and only perform within his/her scope of license. The locum tenens must not provide services during a continuous period of longer than 60 days. For situations extending beyond 60 days, BCBSKS must be contacted to discuss billing arrangements.

In billing for services provided by a locum tenens, the claim must be filed using the NPI or specific performing provider number of the provider for whom the locum tenens is substituting and a Q6 modifier must be used. In addition, the medical record must indicate the services were provided by a locum tenens.