HCFA AUDIT RULES (Field 31)

 Forms must be keyed in all CAPITAL LETTERS.

  
“Key what you see” means to literally key what you see. You are trying to replicate the form as it was submitted; you cannot fix errors.

H31_Physician_Signed		1.       If Box 31 is blank, leave the field blank. 2.       If a name is keyed in Box 31, key the name. 3.       If SIGNATURE ON FILE is keyed in Box 31, key SIGNATURE ON FILE. 4.       If both a name and SIGNATURE ON FILE are keyed in Box 31, key the name. 5.       If both a handwritten signature and SIGNATURE ON FILE appear in Box 31, key the handwritten signature if legible. If it is not legible, key SIGNATURE ON FILE. 6.       If a hand written signature appears in Box 31, key the name – ROBERT CRUIKSHANK MD. If the spelling is unclear, sometimes the name will be keyed in Box 32 or Box 33. Note that you would not add periods to MD or add LCSW that appears in Box 33 to the signature;  Box 33 is just being used to help decipher the signature as written.
		7.       If the signature is illegible and the name is not keyed in either Box 33 or Box 32, leave the H31_Physician_Signed field blank.
H31b_Date		Hyphens, spaces, periods and slashes are optional. If the year is four digits, set four digits. If the year is two digits, set two digits. If the month or day is NOT two digits, either add a zero to make it two digits or add hyphens, spaces, periods or slashes. Date fields should NOT contain alphabetic characters. If a date is spelled out (e.g., May 1, 1984), change it to numbers. If any text appears in the field (e.g., STILL IN), do NOT key.
Examples: As it appears on form: Acceptable entries: 02/04/1972 02/04/1972 02-04-1972 02 04 1972 02.04.1972 02041972 1 08 69 1/08/69 1-08-69 1 08 69 1.08.69 010869 May 1, 1984 5/1/1984 5-1-1984 5 1 1984 5.1.1984 05011984