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Are You Sure the Claim Is Ready for Submission? Watch for these Common Mistakes
Act
immediately
Effective date
Not stated in the notice
Identified
Oct 3, 2026
Summary
This policy reinforces CMS signature requirements for medical documentation to prevent claim denials. All claims must include clear, legible, and verifiable signatures (handwritten matching a signature log or electronic with date/timestamp). Providers using scribes must personally sign entries to authenticate care provided or ordered.
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What to do
immediately · 6 steps
01Billing team and providers must implement signature verification procedures before claim submission.
02Update all claim submission checklists to require verification that signatures are legible and verifiable per CMS standards.
03Ensure provider signature logs are current and submitted to CMS.
04If using scribes, implement workflow requiring provider authentication/signature on all scribed entries before billing.
05Configure billing system to flag claims with illegible handwritten signatures or missing electronic signature timestamps.
06Train front-desk and billing staff to reject incomplete documentation during pre-service operations.
If missed: Failure to comply will result in claim denials, audits, and potential penalties.
Original notice
Are You Sure the Claim Is Ready for Submission? Watch for these Common Mistakes
horizonblue.com · Always check the source before changing claims.