[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 42, Volume 2]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 42CFR410.26]



[Page 324-325]

 

                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH

 

                    CHAPTER IV--CENTERS FOR MEDICARE

                          & MEDICAID SERVICES,

                        DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

                             HUMAN SERVICES

 

PART 410_SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE (SMI) BENEFITS--Table of Contents

 

               Subpart B_Medical and Other Health Services

 

Sec. 410.26  Services and supplies incident to a physician's professional 

services: Conditions.



    (a) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following 

definitions apply:

    (1) Auxiliary personnel means any individual who is acting under the 

supervision of a physician (or other practitioner), regardless of 

whether the individual is an employee, leased employee, or independent 

contractor of the physician (or other practitioner) or of the same 

entity that employs or contracts with the physician (or other 

practitioner).

    (2) Direct supervision means the level of supervision by the 

physician (or other practitioner) of auxiliary personnel as defined in 

Sec. 410.32(b)(3)(ii).

    (3) Independent contractor means an individual (or an entity that 

has hired such an individual) who performs part-time or full-time work 

for which the individual (or the entity that has hired such an 

individual) receives an IRS-1099 form.

    (4) Leased employment means an employment relationship that is 

recognized by applicable State law and that is established by two 

employers by a contract such that one employer hires the services of an 

employee of the other employer.

    (5) Noninstitutional setting means all settings other than a 

hospital or skilled nursing facility.

    (6) Practitioner means a non-physician practitioner who is 

authorized by the Act to receive payment for services incident to his or 

her own services.

    (7) Services and supplies means any services or supplies (including 

drugs or biologicals that are not usually self-administered) that are 

included in section 1861(s)(2)(A) of the Act and are not specifically 

listed in the Act as a separate benefit included in the Medicare 

program.

    (b) Medicare Part B pays for services and supplies incident to the 

service of a physician (or other practitioner).

    (1) Services and supplies must be furnished in a noninstitutional 

setting to noninstitutional patients.

    (2) Services and supplies must be an integral, though incidental, 

part of the service of a physician (or other practitioner) in the course 

of diagnosis or treatment of an injury or illness.

    (3) Services and supplies must be commonly furnished without charge 

or included in the bill of a physician (or other practitioner).

    (4) Services and supplies must be of a type that are commonly 

furnished in the office or clinic of a physician (or other 

practitioner).

    (5) Services and supplies must be furnished under the direct 

supervision of the physician (or other practitioner). The physician (or 

other practitioner) directly supervising the auxiliary personnel need 

not be the same physician (or other practitioner) upon whose 

professional service the incident to service is based.

    (6) Services and supplies must be furnished by the physician, 

practitioner with an incident to benefit, or auxiliary personnel.



[[Page 325]]



    (7) A physician (or other practitioner) may be an employee or an 

independent contractor.

    (c) Limitations. (1) Drugs and biologicals are also subject to the 

limitations specified in Sec. 410.29.

    (2) Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language 

pathology services provided incident to a physician's professional 

services are subject to the provisions established in Sec. 

410.59(a)(3)(iii), Sec. 410.60(a)(3)(iii), and Sec. 410.62(a)(3)(ii).



[51 FR 41339, Nov. 14, 1986, as amended at 66 FR 55328, Nov. 1, 2001; 67 

FR 20684, Apr. 26, 2002; 69 FR 66421, Nov. 15, 2004]