Signature Requirements

Standard Written Orders and other medical documentation supporting claims submitted to Medicare, must be signed by the treating practitioner. Medicare outlines specific signature requirements:

• A valid signature can be handwritten or electronic.
• Stamped signatures are not generally accepted.
• “Signature on File” is not acceptable.
• Handwritten signatures must be legible or confirmed by a signature log or attestations statement.
• A signature log is typed list of medical providers, their NPI numbers and their names, which corresponds to the handwritten signature.
• A log is used to prove verification of a signature that may not be legible.
• An attestation statement affirms the signature belongs to the treating practitioner.
• If using an attestation statement, it must be signed, dated, and contain enough information to identify the patient.
• An electronic signature is set up with the EMR system. It must include the date, time stamp, the provider’s name and credentials, and a statement indicating it is an electronic signature.
• A digitized signature is an electronic image of the provider’s actual signature. This is an accepted signature as long as it is authenticated, which means the provider’s name and credentials should be typed under the image.
• Rubber stamped signatures are not acceptable.

What Does This Mean for You?

Review the signature requirements for prescriptions and other medical documentation. Missing or illegible signatures may result in delayed or denied claims. Read more about Medicare Signature Requirements here.