Wiki Consults dictated under the allotted times.

[lbredl]

Is anyone coding for an inpatient consult where the face-to-face is under the 30 minute mark? The CPT Code book says "typically 30 minutes" and we have never billed them when the doctor dictated face-to-face under that time i.e. 25 minutes. I have recently been told that when it's slightly under (25 min), to code the 30 minutes, which I do not believe is true.

 

[mitchellde]

Consults are based on the documentation of the three key components. The time given in the book is a component and is given only as an average for the provider to accomplish the three key components. The only time you use the time as the driving component is when you are trying to up code a visit for counseling or coordination of care.