Medicare Warns Against Using Disclaimers in your Records

Medicare addressed the increase in providers using disclaimers to indicate they are not responsible if their notes are incomplete or incorrect due to transcription, spelling, or voice recognition errors. Medicare stated that such disclaimers are inappropriate, and their use does not excuse providers from responsibility for the accuracy of their notes. Medicare recommends providers review all notes to verify their accuracy before approving and sign- ing them.

As a reminder, Medicare requires that any notes sent to them be signed with a legible name or initials, or an approved electronic signature containing a statement such as “Authenticated by.” Documentation submitted without such a signature will be rejected as invalid. Once a valid signature is applied, the provider assumes all responsibility for the written information.