Medical records signature requirements rule change
August 29, 2017As part of its 2017 permanent rule changes, OHCA amended OAC §§ 317:30-3-4.1(1)(E) and 317:30-3-30(b) to clarify when medical records must be signed and dated, for the purposes of Medicaid reimbursement. The changes were made through the usual permanent rulemaking process, and the agency did not receive any negative comments about the proposed changes during the thirty-day public comment period. In accordance with Oklahoma law, these amended rules will become effective on September 1, 2017. OHCA, however, has recently received concerns from numerous SoonerCare providers about the feasibility of the rule changes – specifically, the revised language that requires medical records to be signed and dated within three days of the provision of the underlying service. OHCA is committed to working with our partners to ensure that a more flexible timeframe for record authentication is established via rulemaking, as quickly as possible.