Colliemom
Expert
With the new Medicare guidelines we understand that we have to bill inpatient consultations using the initial hospital codes. (99221-99223) We also understand that office consultations will now be billed as new patient visits or established patient visits.
But what happens when a patient is seen in consultation in the ER and he/she has Medicare? In the past we billed ER consults using codes 99241 - 99245, and the ER as the place of service. I read somewhere that we should now be using the Emergency Department codes 99281- 99285. In the past we never used these codes, as we understood these were only for use by the Emergency Department staff. Is it true that we should now be using these codes, and does anyone know where I can find this in writing? (multiple sources would be welcome, as we are receiving conflicting information, one source said to use 99201 - 99205 and the ER as the POS.)
But what happens when a patient is seen in consultation in the ER and he/she has Medicare? In the past we billed ER consults using codes 99241 - 99245, and the ER as the place of service. I read somewhere that we should now be using the Emergency Department codes 99281- 99285. In the past we never used these codes, as we understood these were only for use by the Emergency Department staff. Is it true that we should now be using these codes, and does anyone know where I can find this in writing? (multiple sources would be welcome, as we are receiving conflicting information, one source said to use 99201 - 99205 and the ER as the POS.)