November 5, 2015

Question:
A physician assistant sees a Medicare patient in the emergency room independently. Can this visit be billed under the name and NPI of her supervising physician who did not see the patient?

Answer:
No, Incident-To services do not apply to hospital-based services, nor do they apply to new patients or patients with new problems. This service must be reported under the NPI of the physician assistant who performed the service in the emergency room.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 11/05/15.