Physician scribes may document, but not perform visits

Why This Topic Matters

Accurate documentation and proper note authentication are important for supporting evaluation and management claims and for reducing audit risk. The article helps practices understand the boundaries between a scribe’s documentation role and provider-level services.

Article Sections

1. Documentation rules

   Covers the documentation concerns that arise when a scribe records information during patient encounters. It also discusses note identification, signature expectations, and Medicare contractor guidance in broad terms.

2. Scribes are not providers

   Describes the general limits on a scribe’s role during an encounter and explains that scribes are not treated as the rendering provider. It also addresses the need to distinguish scribe activity from other types of visit participation.

3. Official resources

   Lists external guidance sources referenced by the article for documentation and signature policy background.