MGMA, an Englewood, Colo.-based association of medical practice leaders, polled 1,300-plus members about policies surrounding signing off on patient encounters. While policies and practices surrounding patient charts vary by facility, medical groups and providers may lose money from billing delays if a physician doesn’t close a note in a timely fashion, according to the association.
Here’s how respondents answered when asked, “How soon must providers close [a] patient chart after [the] encounter?”
- Within 24 hours: 30 percent
- Within 48 hours: 29 percent
- Within 72 hours: 20 percent
- Other: 14 percent
- Not tracking: 7 percent
Penalties for noncompliance with patient sign off policies included requiring a provider to pay a monetary fine, withholding providers’ paychecks and terminating repeat offenders.
To access the MGMA Stat survey, click here.
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