Working as a locum can be an excellent opportunity to gain experience in various practices with various patients, systems, and education. Traditionally, locum tenens meant "to hold the place of." But for doctors, nurses, and physician assistants who practice this way, and for their patients, locum tenens means so much more.
The problem with patients arises while billing for them as it can sometimes feel confusing for users how to bill locum tenens physicians for their services. In this article, we provide you with the information you need to use the billing process for locum tenens physicians.
This article just gives a brief introduction to billing tips. For a more detailed explanation, you can connect with ProLocums, the trusted healthcare staffing agency, and get all your queries or doubts solved.
Billing for locum tenens providers is not as simple as billing for regular employees because the rule governing reimbursement is Medicare specific and only applies to Medicare.
Medicaid and commercial payers may have adopted Medicare's rule. Still, if not, you must confirm with the payer that their rules govern locum tenens billing, and if not, you must understand their specific rules.
CMS policy recommends that locum tenens physicians provide services to Medicare patients for 60 consecutive days during their duties. The only exception to this rule is if the regular physician is called to active military duty.
Suppose you utilize a locum physician for much less than 60 days. In that case, the locum's treatments can be invoiced using the missing physician's NPI number with the Q6 qualifier to indicate that they're a locum tenens physician.
Using the missing physician's NPI number allows the absent physician to charge Medicare as though they provided the therapy personally; however, this time cannot exceed 60 calendar days.
An individual serving as a locum tenens covers an absent physician for at least 60 consecutive days. A Locum Tenens physician must be credentialed separately if the assignment exceeds 60 days. Rather than being paid for individual services, locum tenens physicians are paid on a per diem or fee-for-service basis. Medicare beneficiaries must seek care from an absent credentialed physician who is physically unavailable to see patients.
The locum tenens doctor can be utilized for 60 days with the Q6 modifier if the regular physician returns for a brief period, even one day. You can ensure long-term coverage this way.
Generally, Locum Tenens physicians are familiar with the documentation requirements for reimbursement of services provided under the regular physician's NPI. Locum Tenens physicians must enter a Q6 modifier for their services in box 24D of the CMS-1500 claim form. You must enter the original physician's NPI in box 24J, which is the rendering provider's ID.
Locum tenens nurse practitioners and other non-physician providers are not subject to the same billing guidelines as locum tenens physicians. In the case of APP contracts covering the absence of a physician, contact your local Medicare administrative contractor for details regarding billing and the Q6 modifier.
The best way to make this process easier is to work with a trusted healthcare staffing agency like ProLocums. A right partner like ProLocums will provide you with a credentialing team that will know about your enrollment process and helps your staff with billing on time.
When doctors temporarily fill an empty position it is known as locum doctor service. The medical terminology ‘locum tenens’ serves as a ‘placeholder’ description that characterizes this position. Medical practitioners who take locum positions step into doctor roles to fill in assignments beyond primary physician duties. It also enables them to explore various medical setups and meet multiple patient communities while visiting various destinations.
Regardless of your plans to work as a locum, you must prepare first. This checklist provides you with the necessary steps to follow along the path of locum work.
Locum roles operate on short timeframes which grants healthcare professionals the ability to plan their schedules as they wish. The locum lifestyle enables you to decide when to work for several months before taking a rest between assignments. Your desire for work-life balance can be achieved through locum doctor work since the market demands doctors constantly.
Locum professionals have the advantage of traveling thanks to locum assignments. The healthcare needs of the world provide locum physician jobs through their compliant border-crossing procedures. Working in multiple locations can prove to be difficult. Locals must understand that each job needs adaptation to different workgroups and technological systems along with schedule arrangements and payment procedures.
Before committing, conduct thorough research:
After finding locum work matches your objectives you should start seeking open roles. Online job sites particularly target temporary medical physician jobs. Specialized recruitment agencies like ProLocums can match you with medical positions that suit your preferences.
Application & Interview Process:
Execute these steps after you obtain your position to achieve a successful transfer.
A written agreement provides clarity about the job requirements along with employee duties. It should outline:
The arrangement contains important administrative elements about keys as well as parking arrangements and building procedures.
Administrative Preparation:
The preparation process in advance makes the movement smoother.
Before starting locum work you need complete preparation since it's the essential factor for achievement. The medical care provider who follows this checklist will achieve both success and fulfillment during their locum assignment.
The combination of proper preparation along with confidence and adaptability makes you ready to achieve excellence in your new position. For more details, visit www.prolocums.com.
As organizations seeking healthcare staff, it becomes important that your organization chooses the right agency to address your staffing needs. Healthcare recruiters have a host of locum tenens agencies they can engage with who promise to provide the best providers and services. But a good healthcare staffing agency does not merely connect you with qualified providers; it makes the jobs easier by assessing your organization and getting you solutions.
Below are the fundamental criteria that should be used when comparing the various entities in the healthcare staffing agencies and why ProLocums is the best partner for you.
Current and future staffing may work very differently in different specialties, it depends on the position’s urgency, and the number of available positions. The right agency should give a wide range of candidates across various specializations in a way that they can qualify your needs. Many providers increase the probability of identifying suitable candidates for provided openings.
ProLocums has the ability to place providers of all specialties in different healthcare facilities throughout the country. This is why our service can provide you a match within short time and confirm your cooperation with our candidates.
Even the number of providers is not sufficient; it is the quality of the provider that is also very important. It is also easy to find such an agency which has a very strict scrutiny done during the screening of the candidates for the healthcare providers’ employment.
Quality is our flagship at ProLocums. Our credentialing process internally is very stringent in ensuring that the candidate who is to be employed meets standards of competency as well as professionalism thus assuring the clients.
Vacancies can result in costs, undermined staffing strength and dissatisfied customers. A recruitment company that is effective in proceeding to meet a company’s needs for staffing without neglecting the important aspect of quality is essential.
The recruitment process is fast, efficient and accompanied by extensive networks that ProLocums employs to ensure that staffing solutions are met. This allows us to reduce interruptions and maximize the efficient operation of your organization.
Your organization might require coverage of intermittent locum tenens positions, or permanent ones, or may have requirements for both types. There are agencies which specialize in a given type of staffing, whereas offering fewer choices for your business might complicate the recruiting process. Having a single source of consultant that can provide temporary and permanent staffing makes it easy since it saves time.
Established as one of the first providers of locum tenens staffing services, ProLocums also specializes in permanent placement. This flexibility allows us to meet both your immediate and perpetual staffing requirements while assisting you in maximizing your revenues and patient outcomes.
In the case where a given facility needs more than one type of healthcare professional, staffing capacities of an agency must be considered. Whether you are looking for physicians or allied health staff, using different types of provider opens the door to a more efficient hiring process.
Among them, physicians and allied health professionals are included in the ProLocums pool. This flexibility provides a convenient opportunity for us to meet your needs in the most efficient manner.
New sources of telehealth have emerged and virtual visits account for 17% of all patient visits in 2023. In the future, such an agency should serve not only to support staff for telehealth programs but also to assist organizations in the establishment of effective virtual care systems.
We specialize in telehealth staffing and offer consultation for organizations on the establishment and effective management of telehealth services which positions us as the go to solution for organizations in modern health care delivery.
ProLocums is not just a staffing service provider, but the solution you need to turn your staffing problems into innovative staffing solutions optimized for quality, speed and agility.
This means that it is essential to spend time to evaluate the various healthcare staffing companies as the first proportion in directing your staffing organization in the most appropriate direction.
Finding a right partner will change your staffing process, relieve all the stress and improve the quality of service being provided. Get in touch with ProLocums today.
In healthcare, locum tenens is a term derived from the Latin phrase meaning “placeholder.” It refers to professionals hired to temporarily step in for another provider during their absence due to reasons such as illness, vacation, maternity leave, or continuing medical education. These professionals, often called “locums,” fulfill the same duties as regular providers, ensuring continuity of care for patients. However, there are important distinctions between locum tenens providers and temporary staff, especially regarding medical credentialing services.
Understanding these differences is crucial for healthcare organizations, as each category of provider is subject to different federal guidelines and requirements.
The primary distinction between locum tenens providers and temporary staff lies in their duration of service requirements.
While these terms are often used interchangeably, they are not synonymous when it comes to compliance and reimbursement. Organizations must carefully distinguish between the two to avoid administrative complications or delays in payment.
A locum tenens provider has several defining characteristics that set them apart from regular temporary staff. These include:
1. Traveling Clinician Role
Locums often work with one or more agencies, taking temporary placements in various geographic locations as needed. They typically do not maintain their own independent practices.
2. Specific Circumstances for Engagement
Locum tenens professionals are hired due to specific, temporary unavailability of the regular provider, such as medical leave or professional sabbaticals. They are not used to cover routine staff shortages or regularly scheduled time off.
3. Patient Service Flexibility
Locums may provide services beyond the regular provider’s office, ensuring continuity of care for the patients of the absent clinician.
4. Service Period Restrictions
Medicare guidelines specify that locum tenens professionals cannot provide services for more than 60 consecutive days for the same absent provider.
The documentation requirements for locum tenens providers are stringent, making it essential for health systems to adhere closely to federal guidelines.
1. Independent Contractor Status
Locum tenens professionals are considered independent contractors, not employees. They are typically compensated on a fixed per-day basis by the regular provider or the agency placing them.
2. Documentation Requirements
The regular provider must:
3. Special Cases for Post-Operative Care
Substitution services during the post-operative global fee period should not be identified as locum tenens services on claims.
4. Group Practice Exceptions
In group practices, if a locum tenens provider replaces a departing physician, they may be considered part of the group until a permanent replacement is hired. This is allowed as long as the locum’s services to Medicare patients do not exceed the 60-day limit.
If the circumstances of the provider’s employment fall outside the scope of the locum tenens guidelines, the substitute is classified as temporary staff. In such cases, they must undergo the full credentialing process of the host organization, including background checks, licensure verification, and payer enrollment.
Locum tenens providers are a valuable solution for healthcare systems facing temporary provider shortages. They ensure that patients continue receiving uninterrupted care while allowing organizations flexibility to address staffing challenges. However, adhering to the appropriate credentialing guidelines is critical to:
Navigating the complex rules of locum tenens and temporary staffing can be challenging. ProLocums offers credentialing verification services to assist healthcare organizations in managing locum tenens providers efficiently. From credentialing to payer enrollment and licensure applications, ProLocums ensures compliance and helps organizations meet their temporary staffing needs seamlessly.
By understanding and applying the correct rules for locum tenens providers, healthcare systems can make the most of this flexible staffing option while maintaining compliance and delivering high-quality patient care. For more details, visit Prolocums.com.
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