Im a little confused. Why would that be coded as a consult? If you are taking over care of a patient, i would code that as a new pt. Maybe i am forgetting something but i'm thinking that a consult is when you give advice or an opinion to a requesting provider who will still manage the problem....if you take over care, you are taking that patient as your own...... ????
It should be viewed as a consult unless the criteria for a consult is not met.
What you should have is a written request from a provider (say family practice), that is requesting an opinion of a specialty provider (say urology), for a condition (maybe frequent urination).
The specialty physician (urology) will see the patient and review medical records and the patient and should come to a conclusion. The specialty physician consultant may initiate diagnostic and/or therapeutic services at the same or subsequent visit.
The specialty physician (urology) must reply in writing about the findings and results of the visit. This may just be recommendations of treatment or a statement to assume care for a particular condition. This would go back to the requesting physician (family practice).
Start at the highest level of codes you think it might be, a consult in this case. If the documentation supports a consult, then it is a consult.
If the documentation does not support a consult, but does support a new patient, then it is a new patient.
Just keep working down the possibilities when in doubt, but I would start at the highest level.
I hope that helps some.