Wiki E & M new patient versus an established patient

[Jlokloski]

If a patient has a nuclear in the office and then is seen in the hospital three days later by a doctor in our practice is the E & M coded as a new patient?

Thank you for your help.

 

[trarut]

The concept of "new" and "established" does not apply to hospital E/M services. Codes should be selected based on the status of the hospital admission and the type of visit performed (admission, consult, follow-up, etc.).

Tracy

 

[Jlokloski]

I thought that if the patient was in our office first for a visit or say anything that is face to face in our office and then goes to the hospital and one of our practice doctors see the patient there and I am billing for the hospital visit, that it would be considered an established patient? I just don't know if say a nuclear test done first in the office or a stress echocardiogram would be considered face to face. I know that an echocardiogram or EKG is not.

Thank you for your help.