New Seven-Year Retention Requirement for Referring Physician Documentation

Buried in the 500 page 2009 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule is a new record retention requirement applicable to home health agencies and hospices. Regulation section 424.516(f), which became effective Jan. 1, 2009, requires providers to keep documentation from the ordering and referring physician or non-physician practitioner (NPP) for seven years from the date of…