Physician Recertification
Physician recertification is the attestation by the certifying physician or allowed practitioner, required at least every 60 days, that the patient continues to meet Medicare home health eligibility: homebound status, skilled need, and care under a reviewed plan of care. Unlike the initial certification, recertification does not require a new face-to-face encounter, but it must include the practitioner's estimate of how much longer skilled services will be required.
Definition
Physician recertification is the attestation by the certifying physician or allowed practitioner, required at least every 60 days, that the patient continues to meet Medicare home health eligibility: homebound status, skilled need, and care under a reviewed plan of care. Unlike the initial certification, recertification does not require a new face-to-face encounter, but it must include the practitioner's estimate of how much longer skilled services will be required.
Why it matters
Physician Recertification is part of the Payers & Programs vocabulary used across home health operations, documentation, and revenue cycle. Understanding it helps clinicians, QA leads, and administrators stay aligned on care quality and compliance.
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