[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: 42CFR424.36]

[Page 942]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
                             HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 424--CONDITIONS FOR MEDICARE PAYMENT--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart C--Claims for Payment
 
Sec. 424.36  Signature requirements.

    (a) General rule. The beneficiary's own signature is required on the 
claim unless the beneficiary has died or the provisions of paragraph 
(b), (c), or (d) of this section apply.
    (b) Who may sign when the beneficiary is incapable. If the 
beneficiary is physically or mentally incapable of signing the claim, 
the claim may be signed on his or her behalf by one of the following:
    (1) The beneficiary's legal guardian.
    (2) A relative or other person who receives social security or other 
governmental benefits on the beneficiary's behalf.
    (3) A relative or other person who arranges for the beneficiary's 
treatment or exercises other responsibility for his or her affairs.
    (4) A representative of an agency or institution that did not 
furnish the services for which payment is claimed but furnished other 
care, services, or assistance to the beneficiary.
    (5) A representative of the provider or of the nonparticipating 
hospital claiming payment for services it has furnished if the provider 
or nonparticipating hospital is unable to have the claim signed in 
accordance with paragraph (b) (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section.
    (c) Who may sign if the beneficiary was not present for the service. 
If a provider, nonparticipating hospital, or supplier files a claim for 
services that involved no personal contact between the provider, 
hospital, or supplier and the beneficiary (for example, a physician sent 
a blood sample to the provider for diagnostic tests), a representative 
of the provider, hospital, or supplier may sign the claim on the 
beneficiary's behalf.
    (d) Claims by entities that provide coverage complementary to 
Medicare. A claim by an entity that provides coverage complementary to 
Medicare Part B may be signed by the entity on the beneficiary's behalf.
    (e) Acceptance of other signatures for good cause. If good cause is 
shown, CMS may honor a claim signed by a party other than those 
specified in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section.

[53 FR 6640, Mar. 2, 1988; 53 FR 12945, Apr. 20, 1988, as amended at 53 
FR 28388, July 28, 1988]