Pulmonology Coding Alert
Postopeative Care
George Sample, MD, FCCP
Washington Hospital Center
Washington, D.C.
Answer: No. If youre asked to take care of a patient, postoperatively, then the patients care is being transferred to you. You cannot bill the CPT consult codes, 99251-99255. To be asked to assume part of the care is a transfer of subsequent hospital care.
CPT states that subsequent hospital care includes reviewing the medical record, the results of diagnostic studies and changes in the patients status, (i.e., changes in history, physical condition and response to management) since the last assessment by the physician. Remember, subsequent hospital care (99231-99233) also includes evaluation and management of a patient, which requires at least of the three key components (history, examination, and medical-decision). These elements vary based on the code chosen. For instance, 99231 requires:
A detailed interval history;
An expanded problem-focused examination; and
Medical-decision making of moderate complexity.
Again, if youre being asked to see the patient for post-op management, youre being referred the patient and you should be billing daily subsequent hospital care visits (99231-99233).
Pulmonology Coding Alert
- Maximize Reimbursement by Coding Methacholine Challenge Tests with Spirometries
You can get paid separately for methacholine challenge tests (94070) and spirometries (94010) conducted on [...] - Correctly Code Using the New Distinctions for Critical Care
Critical care patients no longer need always be considered unstable critically ill or unstable critically [...] - Optimize Payup for E/M Codes With Solid Documentation
Pulmonology practices can optimize reimbursement for evaluation and management (E/M) services by documenting E/M codes [...] - You Be the Coder:
Asthma Education
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Reader Question:
Postopeative Care
Question: If a physician asks you to take care of his patient postoperatively, do you [...] - Reader Question:
Medicare Billing
Question: How do we properly code with modifiers for the following procedures on a Medicare [...]
