MedicaidDocumentationMedium impact
Physician & Laboratory Responsibilites for Drug Screening Services Billed to MO HealthNet: Reminders
Missouri Medicaid (MO HealthNet)·MO · Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Practice +2 more·Pharmacy
Effective date
Feb 11, 2020
We identified it
Jun 20, 2026
Summary
MO HealthNet has issued reminders about physician and laboratory responsibilities for drug screening services. Key requirements include: physicians must coordinate billing with labs to avoid duplicate billing for same date of service, document medical necessity for quantitative/confirmatory tests, and sign all orders (electronic or paper). Labs must verify medical necessity documentation before performing quantitative tests.
Action Required
Immediately: Physicians must coordinate with laboratories to ensure no duplicate billing for drug screening tests on same date of service. Document medical necessity in patient records before ordering quantitative/confirmatory drug tests. Sign all drug screening orders with proper electronic signature or paper signature (signature stamps not acceptable). Labs must verify medical necessity documentation exists before performing quantitative tests. Failure to follow these requirements may result in claim denials.