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Inpatient consult followed by outpatient visit

veganess

Contributor
Messages
22
Location
Everett, WA
If an inpatient has a consult in the hospital and then follows up with that physician as an outpatient, would I code an established E/M? Thanks in advance.
 
Yes. The first question on the decision tree for new vs. established patient in the CPT book is "has the patient received any professional service rom the physician ot another physician in a group of the same specialty within the last 3 years?"
Since they were seen for a consult in the hospital by the same physician you would immediately defer to established code sets.
 
Yes...if the physician saw the patient in the hospital for a consult, he/she is now considered an established patient of that physician and if seen in the office you would bill with the established patient codes. :)
 
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