tarachatham
New
Hello All!
I have a Palliative medicine provider that is billing 99497 very frequently with subsequent hospital visits. I did a quick audit of the documentation and am wondering is anyone can help with some clarification on this code. Almost all of the patient's that he is billing this code with are at the end of life. He is documenting the conversation with the family, and when he can, the patient (many of them are on vent or unconscious). In some cases he is billing this code on subsequent days. He will document the full conversation with the family and there is never a change in the plan or goals of care. Either patient wishes to remain on support or id DNR. The time that the physician documents is not specific to advance care planning. In general he will state "time spent in counseling/coordination of care/with patient: 25 minutes" (or fill in what ever time).
I don't see this is advance care planning as stated by Medicare guidelines that I have seen. Does anyone else have any input on these codes?? Is advace care planning generally done in the office? how often is this done in the hospital setting at the patient's bedside? Should the physician document time spent specific to ACP??
Thank you for any information!
I have a Palliative medicine provider that is billing 99497 very frequently with subsequent hospital visits. I did a quick audit of the documentation and am wondering is anyone can help with some clarification on this code. Almost all of the patient's that he is billing this code with are at the end of life. He is documenting the conversation with the family, and when he can, the patient (many of them are on vent or unconscious). In some cases he is billing this code on subsequent days. He will document the full conversation with the family and there is never a change in the plan or goals of care. Either patient wishes to remain on support or id DNR. The time that the physician documents is not specific to advance care planning. In general he will state "time spent in counseling/coordination of care/with patient: 25 minutes" (or fill in what ever time).
I don't see this is advance care planning as stated by Medicare guidelines that I have seen. Does anyone else have any input on these codes?? Is advace care planning generally done in the office? how often is this done in the hospital setting at the patient's bedside? Should the physician document time spent specific to ACP??
Thank you for any information!