Orthopedic Coding Alert
Apply Phone Call to E/M
Question: A primary-care physician (PCP) called our orthopedist for consulting services regarding an inpatient. He spoke with the PCP and spent a lot of time researching a particular diagnosis and possible treatments but did not actually see the patient until the next day. How should we report the orthopedist's work? Answer: The most widely recommended option for coding your scenario is to tack the time spent on the phone with the PCP to the patient's next E/M visit. Phone consultations, especially with other physicians, can boost the level of medical decision-making for that next visit. If you choose to apply the time to the medical decision-making, be sure your orthopedist properly documents the phone conversation in the office note of the next visit.
New York Subscriber
Orthopedic Coding Alert
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