Wiki Initial Observation Visit

[debwoods65]

We have a patient who was seen by our doctor in consult during her OBS stay. This was billed as an initial observation visit. We received a denial on the charge stating that the code has already been paid to another provider. No one in our practice saw/billed for this patient. I'm not sure how to deal with this denial. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cheermom68]

observation

The initial observation codes are only used by the admitting physician. If this is a medicare patient you would have to use the appropriate outpatient/office visit codes 99201-99205 or 99211-99215, if this patient has an insurance that accepts consult codes then you would use the appropriate outpatient consult code 99241-99245.
LeeAnn