Documenting the Cost of Medical Director Time Spent

This level of documentation should also be acceptable for cost report purposes, although the cost report is a much less touchy situation to fall short with respect to documenting medical director time. Generally, contested time is merely audited out of the cost report. This may reduce the amount claimable for bad debt, but will not usually incur a fine or censure.

The key to avoiding unnecessary timekeeping headaches is to integrate the time with the task itself. For instance, if there is a QAPI meeting, document the full time of the meeting and the presence of the medical director. In order to count all medical director time, also document time spent preparing for the meeting and any debriefing that would follow.

Ensuring that time spent is time documented may be somewhat tedious at first, but with a little forethought and good design, the time log process can be relatively painless and ensure that both the CfC tasks specific to the medical director are completed and that your facility can demonstrate it has a medical director who has devoted “sufficient time to fulfilling these responsibilities.”

In the meantime, (no pun intended) email your comments and opinions to me at jahern@ahernconsulting.com and check out next month’s issue of the Renal Business Today, Focus on Finance column, to see what your colleagues may have to say. RBT

Jack Ahern has an MBA from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business, and he is president of Ahern Consulting, Financial Advisors to the Healthcare Industry. He is also on the faculty of Rush University Medical Center, Health Systems Management Program, where he has taught graduate courses in healthcare finance, accounting and managed care negotiations. His offices are located in Chicago and Washington, D.C. He can be reached at (312) 992-2177, ext 701.