Hospice Tip: Signatures for Face-to-Face Encounters

The practitioner who performed the encounter must sign the attestation for face-to-face encounters. If a practitioner other than the recertifying physician (such as a nurse practitioner (NP)) performed the encounter, a separate encounter attestation signature is required. The encounter attestation can be on the same page as the recertification and narrative, but must be a separate section above the signature of the practitioner who performed the encounter. The attestation can also be a signed addendum to the certification. Only the recertifying physician can sign the certification and physician narrative.