Anesthesia Coding Alert
Don't Forget 3-Year Rule for New Consults
Vermont Subscriber
Answer: Because the other physician requests that your specialist see the patient and offer an opinion on her care, you can bill a consult visit. Choose the appropriate code from 99241-99245 (Office consultation for a new or established patient ...), provided your physician documents the encounter properly: who requested the consultation (and why), a written opinion from your physician regarding his findings, and a written report back to the requesting physician.
The three-year rule explained in CPT's E/M section states that you should consider a patient as "established" if someone in your group sees or treats her within the last three years. Because your group has not seen this patient in four years, you can consider her a new patient.
Anesthesia Coding Alert
- Compliant Coding:
Monitor 3 Trap-Prone Areas to Stop Upcoding Errors in Their Tracks
Check your base units to avoid audit troubles
Even if upcoding claims (miscoding procedures and bringing [...] - Coding Checkpoint:
Quick Tips to Avoid Upcoding Errors
Reading descriptor details helps keep claims clean
You can take steps to help reduce the upcoding [...] - CPT Update:
AMA Releases Updates to 2006 Codes
Change your parenthetical notes for 01991-01995
The AMA recently published CPT 2006 Errata, which gives a [...] - Pain Management Corner:
J Codes Are Your Key When Coding Botulinum
Check billing units and vials before submitting claims
If your pain management provider purchases botulinum medication, [...] - You Be the Coder:
Know When to Bill Multiple A-Lines
Question: Can we bill for two arterial (A-line) insertions during the same surgery?
Texas Subscriber
Answer: [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
You Can Code PCEA Initiation and Follow-Up
Question: How should I code PCEA initiation for a commercial carrier? Can I code additional [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Consider 01922 or 00120 for Auditory Test
Question: Our physician administered general anesthesia while a 16-month-old child underwent auditory stimulation and electrical [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Watch Documentation Before Coding Consult
Question: Our anesthesiologist noted he performed a postoperative pain consultation and inserted an epidural following [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Report 00940 for Episiotomy Repair
Question: How should I code an episiotomy repair done under general anesthesia after the woman [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Don't Forget 3-Year Rule for New Consults
Question: A physician in another practice asked our pain specialist to perform a patient consult. [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Only Report CP Block for Post-Op Pain
Question: Our physician used general anesthesia during a patient's carotid endarterectomy, but also administered a [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
00860 Is Better Code for TVT Surgery
Question: What anesthesia code should I use for TVT (transvaginal taping) surgery? Some physicians report [...]
