Wiki Patient not present

[jscot76@wgu.edu]

We have a doctor that went over just the results of lab work with a patient's family member. This patient has dementia and it is difficult to get the patient to the office, patient is not in a SNF and not on hospice. I was wondering how we would code it. Please help.

 

[Walker22]

99212, 99213, 99214, or 99215, depending on documentation and payer policy of billing E&M. If you read the CPT descriptions of these codes, you will see that the patient does not have to be present. CPT allows it, although some payers policies may not. Check with the insurance company to be sure.