Eli's Rehab Report
Don't Expect Separate Payment for Telephone Calls
PDF
Question: Are any insurance companies paying for telephone consults (99371-99373)? What about Trailblazer? Answer: In the resource-based relative value (RBRVS) guidelines, these telephone call codes carry a "B" code status, meaning that they are a bundled code. Carriers bundle payment for other services not specified into payment for covered services. In other words, you should not expect relative value units (RVUs) for these codes, because carriers will not provide a separate payment for them.
Missouri Subscriber
Some carriers do cover these services, but they will incorporate the payment into the service to which they are incident-to: for example, a telephone call from a hospital nurse regarding the care of a patient.
Medicare will not reimburse for these services under any circumstance, and most payers that use the RBRVs to determine their fee schedule follow the same course.
Some workers' compensation payers do reimburse this code series, but you should check on the restrictions regarding who was called and the necessity for the call.
Eli's Rehab Report
- Did You Know?You Can Use ESWT For Musculoskeletal Conditions
But what payers cover varies, so watch out
Many physicians use extracorporeal [...] - Get It Straight:
Botulinum Type B Is Not Botox
5 botulinum questions and answers can make you $139 more Do you know the difference [...] - Know What to Expect From Medicare ESWT Policies
3 examples will save you a hassle in the long run When you report ESWT [...] - You Be the Coder:
You May Want to Report 726.39 for Bone Spur
Question: What is the correct diagnosis code for an olecranon bone spur? ICD-9 points to [...] - News You Can Use:
Obey the Rules of the Direct-Access Road
Your PT practice may not receive payment as easily When patients start to ache, they [...] - Reader Questions:
Code Barbotage as Joint Injection
Question: Our physiatrist documented "barbotage of a calcific density in the supraspinatus tendon" under fluoroscopic [...] - Reader Questions:
Same-Date E/M With Epidural Block Requires -25
Question: Can we charge an E/M service on the same day as an epidural block?
North [...] - Reader Questions:
Don't Expect Separate Payment for Telephone Calls
Question: Are any insurance companies paying for telephone consults (99371-99373)? What about Trailblazer?
Missouri Subscriber Answer: [...] - Reader Questions:
You Won't Find a Code for an Intra-Articular Pars Injection
Question: What is the ICD-9 code for L5 pars fracture and the CPT code for [...]