Fraud Alerts / OIG Special Fraud Alerts / Special Fraud Alert_January 1999 / Physician orders and certificates of medical necessity for DMEPOS for home use

Why This Topic Matters

Proper documentation is central to Medicare payment compliance for home-use DME and related items. This guidance helps readers understand the kinds of records and signatures that must be maintained and the general compliance concerns addressed by the OIG.

Article Sections

1. Overview of DME and Medicare coverage documentation

   Introduces durable medical equipment, related supplies, and the general Medicare documentation framework for home-use items.

2. Required elements of physician orders or prescriptions

   Describes the broad information that must appear in an order or prescription and notes additional information that may be needed for certain categories of items.

3. Certificate of medical necessity requirements

   Summarizes when a certificate of medical necessity is needed and outlines the roles of the supplier and treating physician in the document's sections.

4. Signature and attestation expectations

   Addresses the general requirements for physician review, signatures, dating, and retention of documentation associated with the certificate.