Pulmonology Coding Alert

Question: Our physician recently texted an order for a chest x-ray and the radiology provider wouldn't accept it. Can you advise?

Codify Subscriber

Answer: Although many providers used to consider it to be a gray area when determining whether orders could be texted, CMS recently issued some guidance on the matter of texting in the form of a new "Survey & Certification" memo.

In the Dec. 28 memo, CMS said, "Texting of patient orders is prohibited regardless of the platform utilized."

Instead:  Rather than texting patient orders, CMS says, "Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) is the preferred method of order entry by a provider. CMS has held to the long-standing practice that a physician or Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP) should enter orders into the medical record via a hand-written order or via CPOE. An order if entered via CPOE, with an immediate download into the provider's electronic health records (EHR), is permitted as the order would be dated, timed, authenticated, and promptly placed in the medical record."

Therefore, you should stick to CMS's requirements when submitting orders, and you should never text them.

Resource:  To read CMS's memo on texting, visit www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Downloads/Survey-and-Cert-Letter-18-10.pdf.