ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

TJC has reversed its earlier position prohibiting scribe use by PAs If you're using scribes in the ED, you'll want to factor in the latest policy revision from The Joint Commission (TJC) on allowing PAs to utilize scribes to record their ED services. (For more on scribes in ED settings please see Emergency Department Coding and Reimbursement Alert, Vol. 15, No. 4.) Background: Previously, TJC specified that a PA was not considered an independent licensed practitioner, a requirement for being able to use scribes. This was problematic in the ED setting, where scribe use is growing to speed efficiency, especially with complex electronic health records, says Mike Granovsky, MD, FACEP, CPC, President of LogixHealth in Bedford, MA. Compare the two versions of TJC language that follow to see the important change: Old language: [The Joint Commission Use of Unlicensed Persons Acting as Scribes, May, 18, 2011] Q. What is a [...]