Reader Question:
COPD
Published on Mon Dec 31, 2012
Question: The doctor sees a patient for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbated by cough and difficult breathing. A chest x-ray is taken, a comparison is made, and the patient is given a nebulizer treatment. The doctor spends a total of 45 minutes with the patient. Should we code for counseling and co-ordination of care for 45 minutes? How should we code this?
Loretta Del Rio
Bend, OR
Answer: Using a code based on counseling and coordination of care would be appropriate only if the physician documented that the majority of his time with the patient was spent as such. This does not seem to be the scenario you described.
Based on your information, this scenario would be billed 99213 (office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient ... ) or 99354 (prolonged [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
