What does the incident-to codes indicator signify?

The incident-to codes indicator signifies the provision of services by auxiliary staff under the supervision of a physician or qualified healthcare provider. This indicates that certain services delivered by non-physician personnel can be billed under the supervising physician's National Provider Identifier (NPI), facilitating reimbursement for care that is integral to the physician's overall treatment plan.

When services are performed incident to, they typically need to meet specific requirements, including being part of an established plan of care, being performed in a clinic setting, and occurring under the direct supervision of a physician. This coding helps ensure that non-physician providers, such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants, can contribute to patient care while allowing the supervising physician to bill for these services, ultimately benefiting the continuity and efficiency of care.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately capture the intent of the incident-to codes. Qualifying tests for diagnostic services relate to specific procedures and not to the nature of incident-to billing; evaluation and management services involve the direct provision of care and documentation by the physician, rather than auxiliary staff; reimbursement for technical services only pertains to diagnostic testing rather than the collaborative care model that incident-to billing encompasses. Thus, understanding the incident-to codes indicator is crucial for accurate billing practices in settings where