La. Admin. Code tit. 37 § XIII-2517

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section XIII-2517 - Documentation

A. Verification of charges will include the investigation of whether or not:

1. charges are reported on the bill accurately;

2. services are documented in health or other appropriate records as having been rendered to the patient; and

3. services were delivered by the institution in compliance with the physician's plan of treatment. (In appropriate situations, professional staff may provide supplies or follow procedures that are in accordance with established institutional policies, procedures, or professional licensure standards. Many procedures include items that are not specifically documented in a record but are referenced in medical or clinical policies. All such policies should be reviewed, approved, and documented as required by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations or other accreditation of health care organizations or other accreditation agencies. Policies should be available for review by the auditor.)

B. The health record documents clinical data on diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes. It was not designed to be a billing document. A patient health record generally documents pertinent information related to care. The health record may not back up each individual charge on the patient bill. Other signed documentation for services provided to the patient may exist within the provider's ancillary departments in the form of department treatment logs, daily records, individual service/order tickets, and other documents.

C. Auditors may have to review a number of other documents to determine valid charges. Auditors must recognize that these sources of information are accepted as reasonable evidence that the services ordered by the physician were actually provided to the patient. Providers must ensure that proper policies and procedures exist to specify what documentation and authorization must be in the health record and in the ancillary records and/or logs. These procedures document that services have been properly ordered for and delivered to patients. When sources other than the health record are providing such documentation, the provider shall notify the auditor and make those sources available to the auditor.

La. Admin. Code tit. 37, § XIII-2517

Promulgated by the Department of Insurance, Office of the Commissioner, LR 20:311 (March 1994).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with Act 664 of the 1993 Regular Legislative Session and R.S. 22:12.