Back to Chapter 11 Table of Contents
Who is a locum tenens provider? A locum tenens provider is a provider who is sponsored by or otherwise retained by a VHP contracted provider on a temporary basis, not to exceed 60 calendar days, to provide services to the contracted provider’s patients. The contracted provider must be currently employed at that location. VHP does not contract with or make any representation regarding a locum tenens provider’s qualifications or competency. All liability for the acts or omissions of a locum tenens provider rests with the provider or organization retaining the services of the locum tenens. The locum tenens must be the same type of provider as the authorizing provider (e.g., an MD/DO can only authorize another MD/DO as a locum tenens, a DC can only authorize another DC, etc.). To be considered for locum tenens status, the temporary provider must be one of the following provider types: • • • • • •
Doctor of Medicine (MD) Doctor of Podiatry (DPM) Doctor of Optometry (OD) Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) Physical Therapist (PT)
Temporary Transfer of Responsibility Provider agreements obligate PCPs to establish and maintain coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, personal illness, sabbatical or maternity leave are examples of times when brief withdrawal from a practice and temporary transfer of this responsibility may be necessary. In the event the provider must withdraw from his/her practice for a planned period of time (e.g., maternity leave), VHP, at its discretion, may agree that a locum tenens provider may be engaged by the PCP to provide coverage for a limited and specified period of time. The provider must arrange for this coverage and provide VHP with written notice of the temporary transfer of responsibility to a locum tenens provider acceptable to VHP. The provider requesting a temporary transfer of responsibility must include in the arrangement with the locum tenens provider the ability to terminate, without cause and effective upon notice, the locum tenens provider’s provision of services with respect to VHP’s members. If the intended interruption will exceed 60 calendar days, VHP may close the provider’s panel, since absence beyond 60 calendar days does not allow for direct patient management. Sustained periods of unavailability are not in the best interest of VHP’s members, as members are unable to access their chosen PCP. If a PCP’s temporary transfer of responsibility extends beyond 60 calendar days and involves unique circumstances, the provider requesting temporary transfer of responsibility must contact the Provider Credentialing Department for further guidance at 1.408.885.2221 or credentialing@vhp.sccgov.org.
p.88
CH 11: Locum Tenens
2021 / Provider Manual
