Internal Medicine Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Office Visit Precedes Nursing Home Admission

Question: Can I bill for an office visit for an established patient and then bill for a nursing home admission the next day if the doctor does the history and physical the next day? My doctor is asking me if this is possible. Ive always bundled it into the nursing home admission.

Missouri Subscriber

Answer: The answer hinges on the reason for the office visit. If the physician is performing portions of the nursing home admission history and physical in the office on the day prior to the admission and completing the nursing home admission process on day two, then the office visit is bundled into the nursing home admission code (99303). But if the patient visited the office the day before nursing home admission for management of an acute problem or a chronic illness, you can bill the office visit separately using the appropriate E/M code (99212-99215).

 

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