Medicare Claims Processing Manual (Pub. 100-04), Ch. 35 § 20
Ordering of Test
20 - Ordering of Test
(Rev. 1506; Issued: 05-16-08; Effective/Implementation Date: 06-16-08)
All procedures performed by the IDTF must be specifically ordered in writing by the
physician or practitioner who is treating the beneficiary, that is, the physician who is
furnishing a consultation or treating a beneficiary for a specific medical problem and who
uses the results in the management of the beneficiary's specific medical problem.
(Nonphysician practitioners may order tests as set forth in CFR 410.32(a)(3).)
The order must specify the diagnosis or other basis for the testing. The supervising
physician for the IDTF may not order tests to be performed by the IDTF, unless the
IDTF's supervising physician is in fact the beneficiary's treating physician. That is, the
physician in question had a relationship with the beneficiary prior to the performance of
the testing and is treating the beneficiary for a specific medical problem. The IDTF may
not add any procedures based on internal protocols without a written order from the
treating physician.