Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Unwrinkle Nursing Facility POS Codes

Question: Our ophthalmologists sometimes go to see patients in nursing homes. What criteria should I use to differentiate between the nursing facility POS codes? Alabama Subscriber Answer: Confusion about the three nursing home place of service (POS) codes arises because a facility can have both skilled nursing and nonskilled nursing beds at the same time. POS code 31 (Skilled nursing facility): Use this code when your ophthalmologist treats a patient who is in a skilled bed at the time of service. This means the patient has a medical condition that requires skilled nursing care,  such as injections or ventilation. Medicare must authorize skilled nursing services and considers them a Medicare Part A expense. POS code 32 (Nursing facility): Choose code 32 if the patient is not on Part A Medicare, but instead is on longterm care and is receiving medical, nursing or rehabilitative services. POS code 33 (Custodial care facility): [...]
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