Question
Is there ever a time when it is legal for a physician to use another physicians provider numbers to bill for services rendered to patients? If a physician leaves a practice and relocates to another town, is it legal to have a locum tenen use the physicians' provider number to bill for services that the locum tenen physician is actually providing to patients without using a Q6 modifier or any other modifier?
Thank you
Answer
Hi, In answer to your question, no, it is not legal for a physician to bill for his/her services under another physician's name or identification numbers. Even if using the Q6 modifier, you need to be using insurance numbers for a physician that is currently at the practice location, not one who has left.
Hope that is helpful.
Michele
