🩺 Standard Written Order (SWO) Summary
Source: CGS Administrators / CMS — “Standard Written Order (SWO)” (© 2020)
📘 Overview
The Standard Written Order (SWO) replaced the previous Detailed Written Order (DWO), Dispensing Orders, and Other Preliminary Orders for all dates of service on or after January 1, 2020.
SWO simplifies documentation requirements while still ensuring compliance for Medicare DMEPOS claims.
📅 Date Ranges
| Type | Applies To | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed Written Order (DWO) | Dates of service prior to 01/01/2020 | Older format |
| Standard Written Order (SWO) | Dates of service 01/01/2020 and after | Replaces DWO, 5EO, 7EO, DPD, and preliminary dispensing orders |
🧾 Required Elements — SWO (Current Standard)
1. Beneficiary Information
- Beneficiary’s Name or Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI)
2. Order Date
- The date of the order (not the delivery date)
3. Item Description
- General description (e.g., wheelchair, hospital bed), HCPCS code, HCPCS narrative, or brand/model number
- For equipment: include any accessories or additional features that are separately billed or require upgraded codes
- For supplies: include any concurrently ordered supplies that are separately billed
4. Quantity
- Quantity to be dispensed, if applicable
5. Treating Practitioner Information
- Practitioner’s name or NPI
- Practitioner’s signature (handwritten or electronic)
🕰️ Prior to 2020 — Detailed Written Order (DWO) Elements
1. Beneficiary’s Name
- Full legal name of the patient
2. Date of Order
- One or two dates, depending on who created the DWO
3. Description of Items
- One of the following:
- General description (e.g., “wheelchair,” “hospital bed”)
- HCPCS code
- HCPCS narrative
- Brand name/model number
4. Frequency & Quantity
- Frequency of use and quantity dispensed
5. Physician Details
- Treating physician’s signature
- Treating physician’s signature date
✅ Key Differences Between DWO and SWO
| Element | DWO (Before 2020) | SWO (2020 and After) |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary | Name | Name or MBI |
| Description | General/HCPCS/Brand | Same, but allows combined list for equipment and supplies |
| Quantity | Frequency & quantity | Quantity if applicable |
| Physician/Practitioner | Signature + Signature date | Name or NPI + Signature |
| Structure | Multiple order types (DWO, 5EO, etc.) | Single standardized SWO format |
Bottom Line:
The SWO streamlines documentation by combining prior order types into one standardized format. It must clearly identify the beneficiary, describe the item(s), include quantity if applicable, and be signed and dated by the treating practitioner.