National Intelligence Report

Stamped physician signatures are not acceptable on any medical record, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has emphasized in new guidance to providers and Medicare contractors. CMS acted in response to problems of noncompliance with requirements for a valid physician signature on medical documents. The new guidance (Change Request 5971) prohibits use of stamped signatures. Medicare does accept handwritten or electronic signatures or facsimiles of the original written or electronic signatures.