Here is another interesting way to look at it.
Patient sees Dr. A at old office within the past 3 years.
Dr. A leaves and joins a new group.
Patient schedules visit at the new group and has never been see before at the new group. Group has no record, no chart, no anything for patient.. Scheduling department schedules patient with Dr. B.
The billing department has ZERO idea that this patient was seen before by Dr. A when he/she worked at the old office. Again, they have no records, and no bills. Dr. B has no clue that the patient was seen by Dr. A before at his partner's old practice.
The usual course of action is to ask if the patient has ever been seen here before when scheduling? They will respond, No. Personally, when scheduling, I have NEVER had asked of me, if I have ever been seen (insert list of doctors) at another office before???
Nor do I think it's feasibile to ask Dr. A.. "He we have Judy Smith coming in as a new patient tomorrow. She's beeing seen by Dr. B. You by chance didn't see her within the past 3 years, did you?"
I would think that the new vs. established is linked to the NPI and TaxID number when it becomes established.
There is no link for the new provider NPI number and TaxID to that patient for a carrier (or the office staff) to know that this patient was previously seen and might be established.
The staff would bill it as new, and if the cross-linked record exists, it will bump out on the EOB as a denial.