[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR424.24]

[Page 939-940]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
                             HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 424--CONDITIONS FOR MEDICARE PAYMENT--Table of Contents
 
       Subpart B--Certification and Plan of Treatment Requirements
 
Sec. 424.24  Requirements for medical and other health services furnished by providers under Medicare Part B.

    (a) Exempted services. Certification is not required for the 
following: (1) Hospital services and supplies incident to physicians' 
services furnished to outpatients. The exemption applies to drugs and 
biologicals that cannot be self-administered, but not to partial 
hospitalization services, as set forth in paragraph (e) of this section.
    (2) Outpatient hospital diagnostic services, including necessary 
drugs and biologicals, ordinarily furnished or arranged for by a 
hospital for the purpose of diagnostic study.
    (b) General rule. Medicare Part B pays for medical and other health 
services furnished by providers (and not exempted under paragraph (a) of 
this section) only if a physician certifies the content specified in 
paragraph (c)(1), (c)(4) or (e)(1) of this section, as appropriate.
    (c) Outpatient physical therapy and speech-language pathology 
services--(1) Content of certification. (i) The individual needs, or 
needed, physical therapy or speech pathology services.
    (ii) The services were furnished while the individual was under the 
care of a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or 
physician assistant.
    (iii) The services were furnished under a plan of treatment that 
meets the requirements of Sec. 410.61 of this chapter.
    (2) Timing. The certification statement must be obtained at the time 
the plan of treatment is established, or as soon thereafter as possible.
    (3) Signature. (i) If the plan of treatment is established by a 
physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician 
assistant, the certification must be signed by that physician or 
nonphysician practitioner.

[[Page 940]]

    (ii) If the plan of treatment is established by a physical therapist 
or speech-language pathologist, the certification must be signed by a 
physician or by a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or 
physician assistant who has knowledge of the case.
    (4) Recertification--(i) Timing. Recertification statements are 
required at least every 30 days and must be signed by the physician, 
nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant 
who reviews the plan of treatment.
    (ii) Content. The recertification statement must indicate the 
continuing need for physical therapy or speech-language pathology 
services and an estimate of how much longer the services will be needed.
    (iii) Signature. Recertifications must be signed by the physician, 
nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant 
who reviews the plan of treatment.
    (d) [Reserved]
    (e) Partial hospitalization services: Content of certification and 
plan of treatment requirements--(1) Content of certification. (i) The 
individual would require inpatient psychiatric care if the partial 
hospitalization services were not provided.
    (ii) The services are or were furnished while the individual was 
under the care of a physician.
    (iii) The services were furnished under a written plan of treatment 
that meets the requirements of paragraph (e)(2) of this section.
    (2) Plan of treatment requirements. (i) The plan is an 
individualized plan that is established and is periodically reviewed by 
a physician in consultation with appropriate staff participating in the 
program, and that sets forth--
    (A) The physician's diagnosis;
    (B) The type, amount, duration, and frequency of the services; and
    (C) The treatment goals under the plan.
    (ii) The physician determines the frequency and duration of the 
services taking into account accepted norms of medical practice and a 
reasonable expectation of improvement in the patient's condition.
    (3) Recertification requirements.
    (i) Signature. The physician recertification must be signed by a 
physician who is treating the patient and has knowledge of the patient's 
response to treatment.
    (ii) Timing. The first recertification is required as of the 18th 
day of partial hospitalization services. Subsequent recertifications are 
required at intervals established by the provider, but no less 
frequently than every 30 days.
    (iii) Content. The recertification must specify that the patient 
would otherwise require inpatient psychiatric care in the absence of 
continued stay in the partial hospitalization program and describe the 
following:
    (A) The patient's response to the therapeutic interventions provided 
by the partial hospitalization program.
    (B) The patient's psychiatric symptoms that continue to place the 
patient at risk of hospitalization.
    (C) Treatment goals for coordination of services to facilitate 
discharge from the partial hospitalization program.
    (f) All other covered medical and other health services furnished by 
providers--(1) Content of certification. The services were medically 
necessary,
    (2) Signature. The certificate must be signed by a physician, nurse 
practioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant who has 
knowledge of the case.
    (3) Timing. The physician, nurse practioner, clinical nurse 
specialist, or physician assistant may provide certification at the time 
the services are furnished or, if services are provided on a continuing 
basis, either at the beginning or at the end of a series of visits.
    (4) Recertification. Recertification of continued need for services 
is not required.

[53 FR 6638, Mar. 2, 1988; 53 FR 12945, Apr. 20, 1988; 56 FR 8845, 8853, 
Mar. 1, 1991; 63 FR 58912, Nov. 2, 1998; 65 FR 18548, Apr. 7, 2000]