Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: We hired a locum tenens for two weeks. Do we code the same for the replacement physician as for a full-time oncologist?

Georgia Subscriber

Answer: Private payer rules may vary, but for Medicare patients, you should append modifier Q6 (Service furnished by a locum tenens physician) to each procedure code on the temporary doctor's Medicare claims. You should bill under the national provider identifier (NPI) of the physician the locum is replacing.

Although your two-week arrangement falls well inside Medicare's 60-day limit for a locum tenens physician, you should be aware that a substitute physician may not provide services to Medicare patients for more than60 days, according to the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 1, Section 30.2.11. (See additional details in the manual, online at www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/downloads/clm104c01.pdf.)

Private payers vary: Before using modifier Q6 for a non-Medicare patient, check with the commercial payer. Some will follow the Medicare locum tenens guidelines, but you should not assume that all commercial payers will want modifier Q6. Private payers' rules regarding substitute physicians can differ from Medicare's.

Definition: A locum tenens arrangement describes a one-way exchange between physicians, in which your oncologist or hematologist retains a substitute physician (the locum tenens) to take over the practice temporarily and pays the substitute physician a fixed amount per diem or similar fee-for-time structure. Reasons for hiring a locum tenens may include the regular physician needing time away for illness, pregnancy, vacation, or continuing medical education.