General Surgery Coding Alert
Report Initial Inpatient Consults for Nursing Homes
Question: Which codes should I use when the physician is called into the nursing home for a consultation? Answer: You should choose the appropriate code from the 99251-99255 range (Initial inpatient consultations), depending on the level of service supported by the physician's documentation. The CPT definition of an initial inpatient consultation states, "The following codes are used to report physician consultation provided to hospital inpatients, residents of nursing facilities, or patients in a partial hospital setting." -- Technical and coding advice for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions provided by Marcella Bucknam, CPC, CCS-P, CPC-H, HIM program coordinator at Clarkson College in Omaha, Neb.
New York Subscriber
General Surgery Coding Alert
- 3 Tips to Cinch Your Colonoscopy Coding
Don't let inappropriate bundles cost you $500 or more You have to consider many factors [...] - Earn an Additional $120 for Extended E/M Services
Prolonged services codes can get you paid for extra time spent face-to-face If you find [...] - Prolonged Services Codes
+99354 - Prolonged physician service in the office or other outpatient setting requiring direct (face-to-face) [...] - You Be The Coder:
Reporting Caths as Distinct Procedures
Question: Recently, some insurance companies have bundled bilateral selective renal arteriography with heart catheterizations. I [...] - How to Choose Between Time-Based E/M, Prolonged Service
Start with history, exam and MDM Your general surgeon conducts a 50-minute established outpatient visit [...] - Reader Question:
Global Days Matter With Modifiers -25/-57 - Reader Question:
Don't Expect Payment if Patient Isn't Present
Question: Can we bill an office visit (99211-99215) for a consult with a family member [...] - Reader Question:
Report 45381 for Colon Tattooing
Question: How can I code for colonoscopy with tattooing using India ink?
Arkansas Subscriber Answer: The [...] - Reader Question:
Fee Schedule Can Give You Global Period Info
Question: How can I find the length of postoperative global periods for various procedures the [...] - Reader Question:
Unlisted-Procedure Code Describes Vein Excision
Question: Which code is appropriate to report excision of an infected vein?
California Subscriber Answer: CPT [...] - Reader Question:
Reserve After-Hours Codes for Emergencies
Question: Recently we've had an unexpected patient load and were thinking of offering extended office [...] - Reader Question:
Report Initial Inpatient Consults for Nursing Homes
Question: Which codes should I use when the physician is called into the nursing home [...] - Get ABNs, or Risk Picking Up Patient Tabs
Without ABNs, unpaid Medicare bills may become your problem If you aren't obtaining advance beneficiary [...] - ABNs:
What to Change, What to Leave Alone
Got an itch to make a switch on an ABN? Proceed with caution When it [...] - You Be The Expert:
ABNs and Uncovered Medicare Services
Question: Our office obtains advance beneficiary notices each time there is some doubt about whether [...] - Reader Question:
Follow the CMS Definition of 'Deliver'
Question: Since the purpose of an ABN is to inform the patient about a service, [...]
