Wiki Hospital visit for "2nd opinion"

[nc_coder]

I know the 2nd opinion codes went away a few years ago. One of our physician's saw pt in the hospital (inpatient) for a 2nd opinion. What code would I use? It is not a consult and we didn't admit the pt. The 99221-99223 codes are throwing me because it says to be used by the admitting physician. The subsequent visits are just that - sebsequent visits after the intial. Am I misunderstanding something here and making it harder than it should be?

 

[Jtk625]

Who requested the "2nd opinion" in the hospital?

 

[nc_coder]

I believe the patient. But does it matter? It definately wasn't a consult, admit, or subsequent visit.

 

[mitchellde]

It is a subsequent visit, it is a visit subsequent to the admission. If requested by the patient, then be prepared for the payer to be reluctant to pay. Especially if the patient is already being seen by a physician of the same specialty.