Wiki 99441-99443 Help?

[sinman0531]

This is a personal question. Messaged a provider via the patient portal, she returned my message by call--did not tell me I would be charged for her calling me--and then billed my insurance. Do the telephonic E/M codes include time spent reviewing medical records prior to the call, etc, or are they strictly voice time only?

 

[jackjones62]

Based on CPT, 99441-99443, time is strictly the time that is spent on the phone with the patient. The telephone codes are not the same as the E/M services, 99202-99215, billed using total time. As you are aware billing the standard E/M services using total time includes the time spent with the patient as well as any services in the treatment of that patient performed on the day of the encounter. This can include chart review, coord. of care, exam, documentation, ordering Rx or testing, etc..

Also, the provider was obligated to inform you that her phone call to you would be charged as a telephone encounter. You could argue the point if you choose to do so.

Hope this helps.

Jennifer​

Coding Analyst