Wiki New patient post op with x-ray encounter and post x-ray encounter

[carlystur]

One of our patients was seen by two providers of different specialties at our office on the same day during the post-op period for spinal surgery and it seems like it was about the same underlying condition, though one was considered a new patient appointment since the patient had never seen the new provider before. If the new, different specialty, provider was treating the pain associated with the underlying condition, would that count for a new patient encounter? It doesn't seem like it would. I've already got the established encounter coded as post-op to review an X-ray taken the same day, but I'm concerned about the new patient encounter with the different specialty provider. Should that also be coded as post-op or can the new patient visit still be coded as a new patient visit or something else entirely?

 

[trarut]

::snip:: If the new, different specialty, provider was treating the pain associated with the underlying condition, would that count for a new patient encounter? ::snip::

What are the specialties of the two physicians? If the second physician is specializing in pain management, then I would count it as a new patient as he should not be treating or managing the underlying condition, just the associated pain.

 

[carlystur]

What are the specialties of the two physicians? If the second physician is specializing in pain management, then I would count it as a new patient as he should not be treating or managing the underlying condition, just the associated pain.

That's exactly what the second (new) physician specializes in - pain management - and that's what that encounter was for. Thank you for confirming this for me!

 

[trarut]

Glad to help. Hope the insurance company agrees with both of us!