CERT Urine Drug Testing errors

The Comprehensive Error Rate Testing Program discovered an increase in denials for urine drug testing (UDT) related to substance monitoring and drug abuse testing. The reasons for denials include: insufficient or no documentation to support intent to order the test and/or medical necessity for the test of the individual patient, unsigned medical record documentation by treating physician or non-physician practitioner, blanket orders not for a specific patient without individual decision making at every visit and routine standing orders for all patients in a physicians practice. Please ensure you are following the guidelines per Local Coverage Determination L35006, “Controlled Substance Monitoring and Drugs of Abuse Testing”.