Wiki Closed fracture treatment

[nc_coder]

Patient presents to ER and is admitted by gen surg trauma after being hit by a car. Ortho is called in for a consult. Ortho surgeon documents a complete level 3 consultation. Stated in the same consult note- radiographs were reviewed, fibula shaft fracture confirmed, no intervention, no follow up necessary, ortho signed off.
Ortho did not see this patient anymore during her hospital stay and does not plan to follow her after discharge.

Is it justified to bill the Level 3 consult and 27780?

 

[bnwebb]

closed fracture treatment

This is a good question.

My physician was called to do a consult on a patient with a hip fracture and he billed for the consult and 27193(closed treatment for pelvic ring fracture). I was curious if you can bill for both the E/M and treatment?

 

[jdibble]

Patient presents to ER and is admitted by gen surg trauma after being hit by a car. Ortho is called in for a consult. Ortho surgeon documents a complete level 3 consultation. Stated in the same consult note- radiographs were reviewed, fibula shaft fracture confirmed, no intervention, no follow up necessary, ortho signed off.
Ortho did not see this patient anymore during her hospital stay and does not plan to follow her after discharge.

Is it justified to bill the Level 3 consult and 27780?

The doctor should only bill the E/M visit. If he has no intentions of following up on this patient and he hasn't followed the patient in the hospital, then he provided no fracture care. If he did any kind of casting he should only bill for that, but not a global fracture care code.