Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: If two allergists in the same group see the same office patient on the same day, is there a way to obtain reimbursement for both physicians?Minnesota SubscriberAnswer: No, you would normally combine both E/M services into one code. CPT considers an E/M service's history and physical global for the day. Therefore, correct coding bundles same-day office visits together.For instance, two allergists in the same practice treat an asthma patient twice on the same day. In the morning, Allergist A prescribes new asthma medication for a patient who's been having occasional attacks and codes the encounter as 99213 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient ...).Later that day, the patient returns wheezing and sees Allergist B, who performs and documents 99214 with spirometric pre- and postbronchodilator evaluations, repeat nebulizations, and prolonged time.If you submit 99213 and 99214 on the same day, the payer [...]