175.990 Standing Orders:
Since (a) the Medicaid Program does not currently recognize a standing orders protocol which is widely accepted by other insurers and (b) it becomes inefficient and burdensome for physicians to provide original signatures on all laboratory test requisitions, MSSNY will urge the Office of Medicaid Management of the NYS Department of Health to:
- Eliminate the requirement for original physician signatures, except the first signature, on each laboratory test requisition and allow standing orders for such tests involving chronic patient conditions (which may include, but not be limited to, diabetes (Glucose, Hemoglobin A1C/Glycohemoglobin), chemotherapy (CBC, Platelets), heart conditions (Prothrombin Time, Digoxin) substance abuse monitoring by a licensed treatment facility, any other condition deemed chronic in the reasonable judgment of a physician, etc.);
- Allow the initial standing order containing an original physician signature to be valid for up to six months, after which time it must be renewed;
- Enable physicians to designate staff members to sign the laboratory test requisitions on their behalf so long as the physicians formally acknowledge ultimate responsibility for the ordered tests;
- Develop a similar protocol for electronically ordered laboratory tests
- Interact the MSSNY, the Advisor on Practice Parameters Partnership and the NYS Clinical Laboratory Association (NYSCLA) to develop a listing of acceptable chronic conditions for the application of standing orders;
- Interact with MSSNY and NYSCLA to develop an appropriate mechanism for the implementation of a standing orders protocol for laboratory test requisitions. (Council 2/4/98; Reaffirmed HOD 2014; Reaffirmed HOD 2024)
