bethb
Guru
Hi. I am finding some conflicting information regarding billing for physicians in the place of service emergency room.
Can any physician who sees a patient in the ER, regardless of specialty, bill using emergency room CPT codes 99281-99285?
For instance, an established patient of Dr. X goes to the ER. Dr. X happens to be at the hospital doing rounds at the time the patient presents to the ER. Dr. X is called down to the ER to see his patient. Can Dr. X bill from the 99281-99285 codes?
Another instance I question myself about is when a non-established patient presents to the ER and the ER physician calls Dr. Y (a specialist) and asks Dr. Y to see the patient in the ER. (the patient has Medicare in my example, so billing a consultation will not work) Dr. Y sees the patient in the ER. Can Dr. Y bill the visit from the 99281-99285 codes?
I have found different opinions for billing the situations. Can any physician, regardless of specialty, bill the ER codes if the physician sees the patient in the ER? Or are ER codes strictly for the ER physician?
Thanks!
Beth
Can any physician who sees a patient in the ER, regardless of specialty, bill using emergency room CPT codes 99281-99285?
For instance, an established patient of Dr. X goes to the ER. Dr. X happens to be at the hospital doing rounds at the time the patient presents to the ER. Dr. X is called down to the ER to see his patient. Can Dr. X bill from the 99281-99285 codes?
Another instance I question myself about is when a non-established patient presents to the ER and the ER physician calls Dr. Y (a specialist) and asks Dr. Y to see the patient in the ER. (the patient has Medicare in my example, so billing a consultation will not work) Dr. Y sees the patient in the ER. Can Dr. Y bill the visit from the 99281-99285 codes?
I have found different opinions for billing the situations. Can any physician, regardless of specialty, bill the ER codes if the physician sees the patient in the ER? Or are ER codes strictly for the ER physician?
Thanks!
Beth