abazcoder
Networker
Can someone help resolve a debate going on in my office?
If a doctor is called to treat a patient of his in the E.R. (not as a consultant...as a regular doctor who is known to the patient)
Can the doctor use the Emergency Room E&M codes?
I've been told by coders at my job that the codes should only be used by the E.R. doctors specifically.
That instead we should be usining the regular "Est.office/outpatient visit" codes.
However,,,,my teacher (I'm still a student member here) instructed us that the E.R. E&M codes may be used by other doctors....NOT just for the docs' who work the Emergency Room.
What is the verdict here?
Are the 99281-99285 codes the exclusive domain of the Emergency room doctors?
Thank you!
If a doctor is called to treat a patient of his in the E.R. (not as a consultant...as a regular doctor who is known to the patient)
Can the doctor use the Emergency Room E&M codes?
I've been told by coders at my job that the codes should only be used by the E.R. doctors specifically.
That instead we should be usining the regular "Est.office/outpatient visit" codes.
However,,,,my teacher (I'm still a student member here) instructed us that the E.R. E&M codes may be used by other doctors....NOT just for the docs' who work the Emergency Room.
What is the verdict here?
Are the 99281-99285 codes the exclusive domain of the Emergency room doctors?
Thank you!