Baltimore

Effective Jan. 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began accepting stamped signatures used by physicians on orders for durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics. Previously, only personally handwritten or electronic signatures were accepted.

Signature stamps still are prohibited for Certificates of Medical Necessity. A physician whose name appears on stamped signatures bears the responsibility for its authenticity, said Robert Hoover, medical director for the Region D DMERC. “All state licensure and state practice regulations continue to apply to stamped or alternative signature methods. Where state law is more restrictive than Medicare, the state law standard will be applied.”

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