Orthopedic Coding Alert

Fax this form to requesting physicians to keep those written requests coming

New Medicare rules outlined in Medlearn Matters article MM4215 stipulate that both the consulting and requesting physician must maintain documentation in support of consultation services (99241-99255). This includes both a written request and a reason for the consultation in keeping with the patient's plan of care.

If you-ve failed in getting requesting physicians to document their consult requests in writing, we-ve got just the help you need. The following form was written by Barbara J. Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CHBME, president of CRN Healthcare Solutions in Tinton Falls, N.J., who allowed us to reprint it for our subscribers- benefit.

Best practice: You can fax this form to a requesting physician who hasn't asked in writing for your orthopedist's advice, and ask him to fax it back to you--or you can use this form to ask a specialist for his opinion.
 
If you use it to request a consult from another physician, you should print the form on two-part no-carbon-required (NCR) paper. This way, one form goes with the patient to the specialist, and one stays in the requesting physician's chart to meet insurers- requirements, Cobuzzi says.