Internal Medicine Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Nurse Could Count for 98960 Professional

Question:

Is it appropriate to use code 98960 for a nurse who completes extensive asthma education with individual patients as ordered by the provider?

Florida Subscriber

Answer:

Practices sometimes wonder which of their staff might count as the "qualified non-physician health care professionals" mentioned in code 98960 (Education and training for patient self-management by a qualified nonphysician healthcare professional using a standardized curriculum, face-to-face with the patient [could include caregiver/family] each 30 minutes; individual patient). A respiratory therapist qualifies, so it stands to reason that a nurse trained in asthma education could also meet the criteria. Check with your state society about what scope of practice laws encompass, then discuss the matter with your individual payers. 

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