Wiki ER visit or Initial ????

[bill2doc]

Report says "consultation report" can't code consult as it is Medicare. Pt comes to ER complaining of abdominal pain - after assesment it is decided pt to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy and perform intraoperative cholangiogram. Would this be a ER 99285 code with -57 or 99222 initial with a -57 ????

Thank you !

 

[Sueedwards]

Was the decision for surgery by the consulting doctor or the ER physician?

Thanks, Sue

 

[bill2doc]

Consult trauma physician on staff who would then perform the surgery. Can you explain how it would be coded with both of your scenario's Consult or ER Phy ?

 

[Betty328]

Medical Coder

The Er doctor performed the procedure. So you would bill Er visit with the code. Just make sure it was not a critical care code.

 

[kjstearns]

Did your doctor admit the patient? If so then you would bill the admit code with a -57 modifier.

~Kirsten, CPC