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Leslie WitkinAbout Us

     Physicians First, Inc.
was founded in Orlando, Florida in June of 1990 by the company president, Leslie Witkin.

     Leslie is a graduate of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock School of Nursing in New Hampshire and has over twenty years of successful experience in medical practice management.

     Her long term healthcare career has fostered mutual respect in clinical and professional relationships with physicians, medical office personnel, state and federal legislators, and executives in other organizations that represent physician interests.

     The goal of the company is to provide quality consulting services to help physicians achieve a successful business in a complex regulatory environment that allows physicians to be a physician first….the way it should be.

     Being highly pro-active and with steadfast commitment, the company has been successful in presenting testimony to both state and federal regulators resulting in resolution to physician issues and legislation related to prompt pay laws.

     The company works directly with physician businesses to provide operational assessments, auditing, and other consulting services. In addition, Physicians First, Inc. has conducted and written comprehensive manuals for a variety of seminars both nationally and throughout the State of Florida. Topics for programs are always pertinent to the latest regulatory and operational issues facing the medical business.

     The value of educational programs as well as the company's consulting services is more than documented in the references from both participants, administrators, and other executives who have utilized Physicians First, Inc. in their organizations.

     Physicians First Inc. has published many articles, frequently renders opinions, and has served as a speaker for many national publications that cover a wide variety of physician specialties, coding, policy, and regulatory issues.


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Physicians First
..the way it should be

FYI - For Your Information

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March 15, 2010

Article: CMS Clarifies Signature Requirements - "Legible", "Illegible", and Electronic
   In October, 2009 (see FYI article below dated 10/8/09) the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) clarified that providers of Medicare services must comply with signature legibility requirements outlined in the Medicare Carrier Internet-only manual, Publication 100-08, Chapter 3, Section 3.4.1.1 B. This section stipulates and CMS has stated that "Medicare requires a legible identifier for services provided/ordered. The method used shall be hand written or an electronic signature (stamp signatures are not acceptable) to sign an order or other medical record documentation for medical review purposes. (The only exception is that facsimiles of original written or electronic signatures are acceptable for the certifications of terminal illness for hospice.)The legible identifier (signature) requirement applies to documentation for any service performed and billed to Medicare. The purpose of a rendering/treating/ordering practitioner’s signature in patients’ medical records, operative reports, orders, test findings, etc., is to support that the services have been accurately and completely documented, reviewed and authenticated."
   On 3/9/10, an article was posted to the Florida Medicare contractor website outlining clarifications from CMS regarding "legible", "illegible", and electronic signatures. It is very important for you to read and comply with these requirements. Record reviews by contractors or other entities, are being very strict in enforcement; AND money will be recouped if signature requirements are not followed.
   Click Here to Read the Recent CMS Clarifications