Hospitalists and a Consent Visit

[jifnif]

One of our hospitalists wants to charge for a short visit to obtain consent for a blood transfusion. I can't seem to locate a cpt that would be comparible to the visit. Is there a code for this?

 

[jifnif]

Can you use code 99401 for a situation like this and can you use it during an inpatient visit?

 

[FTessaBartels]

Can you post the note?

To be certain, I'd have to see the actual documentation.

I would not use 99401 as this is not a preventive counseling visit.

I'm thinking there's not enough there for 99231?

Option 1: Bill based on time when more than 50% is spent counseling/coordination of care. You need at least 15 minutes total time spent for 99231.

Option 2: If this was one of two visits on the same date of service, roll all the cares into one level of E/M service.

Option 3: If there was no other visit on this same date of service, then the only thing you could possibly code would be 99499 Unlisted E/M procedure. I'd base my fee on 99231, but based on the documentation and the amount of time spent with the patient I might be inclined to halve that usual fee.

Option 4: Don't code it at all, as documentation doesn't support even the lowest level E/M.

Hope that helps

F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC