Wiki Non-stress test inquiry

[desireewhite185@yahoo.com]

Our hospital performs our non-stress tests when OB patient needs one, then our doctor reads this. They bill the 59025 and we bill the 59025, 26. My manager was just informed that the insurance companies don't typically pay for these. She was also told other offices do the NST right in the office. (We are a Rural Health Clinic, our hospital is considered Non-RHC)
Wondering if anyone out there has experience with this. She also did quick research that said if done in office it may be just considered part of the global billing and not separately billable. Thanks, Desiree

 

[Cmama12]

We bill NSTs in both the hospital and clinic POS. They are not part of the maternity global.

 

[Shawna Paul]

We bill NSTs in both the hospital and clinic POS. They are not part of the maternity global.

So how does your hospital bill for the visit? Is it an OB check with an NST but done in the hospital setting and seen only by the nurse performing the NST?

 

[nielynco]

So how does your hospital bill for the visit? Is it an OB check with an NST but done in the hospital setting and seen only by the nurse performing the NST?

The nurse cannot bill for the visit - you can only charge for the NST tech part (as the nurse cannot also interpret and get paid). You would bill for whatever you consider the facility charge for the use of the NST room. In order to bill for a separate visit the patient must have been seen by a billing provider as "incident to" services are not billable in the facility setting.