Practice Management Alert

Think of locum tenens as local tenant, Johnson says. You still bill under the regular physician, but she then personally works out a payment schedule with the locum tenens physician for the regular substituting service. Note that in a group setting, it is the regular physician, not the group provider, who pays the locum tenens, she adds.

Several payers allow locum tenens billing for nonphysician practitioners, such as CRNAs and nurse practitioners, but you should check specific guidelines before you enter agreements, Johnson says. Georgia Medicaid, for example, allows CRNAs to enter locum tenens agreements only with other CRNAs, she says. "Per credential" is the best mnemonic device for this particular rule, Johnson says.

Payers will deny your locum tenens claims if, under the arrangement, a physician who is waiting for a provider number bills under another practicing colleague's number to ensure payment for services while he waits, Johnson warns. To bill locum tenens, the regular physician under whose name you bill must be unavailable, and the substitute physician must see patients seeking the regular physician's care.

When filing a legitimate locum tenens claim, Johnson says, you should again check Medicare carrier coverage. Georgia Medicare requires that in addition to the regular physician's name and number, you identify the locum tenens physician and his UPIN number in block 17A on the 1500 form. Other carriers may require that information in item 23 and the regular absentee number in Item 33, she adds. For electronic claims, check Web sites or the physician billing manual, Johnson says. See the box below for frequently asked questions about locum tenens. $ $ $