Wiki New Patient vs. Established patient

[cmcgovern@coastalwomenshc.com]

For 2 years patient comes to our Practice for a mammogram only. She has never seen a Dr. at our Practice. She then comes in for an Annual. Would this be a New or established patient annual?

 

[thomas7331]

A patient only becomes established by a face-to-face service with the provider. Diagnostic radiological tests (including interpretation of the results) are not considered face-to-face services under CPT definition and under most payer policies, so as you've described it, this would be a new patient.