Dermatology Coding Alert

Compliance with new consultation rules is a simple fax away

If you have trouble getting requesting physicians to document their consult requests in writing, we've got just the tool for you.
 
Although technically a consult request can be in writing or verbal, a written request is required by CMS and is becoming increasingly required by other payers.

One way to ensure that requests for all consultations you perform are well documented is to fax the requesting physician a form to file in the patient's chart, which simply documents the physician's consultation request.

The following form was written by Barbara J. Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CHBME, president of CRN Healthcare Solutions in Tinton Falls, N.J.

Best practice: You can fax this form to a requesting physician who hasn't asked in writing for your physician's advice and ask him to fax it back to you--or you can use this form to ask a specialist for his opinion. If you use it to request a consult from another physician, you should print the form on two-part no-carbon-required paper. This way, one form goes with the patient to the specialist, and one stays in your chart, as the requesting physician, to meet insurers' requirements, Cobuzzi says.

(Specialist Practice Name)
(Street Address)
(City, State, ZIP)
(Phone)

Request for Opinion

Consult Request to: Dr. "A" [ ]
Dr. "B" [ ]
etc....

From: (Requesting Physician's Name), requesting an opinion on: (Patient's Name)

Date: _______

A request for an opinion and consult for the above-named patient has been made from the above-named physician. This patient has been sent to (Practice Name) for the following reasons:___________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The physician requesting this opinion understands that the consulting physician may initiate treatment or perform medically necessary diagnostics for this patient.

The consulting physician will send the requesting physician an opinion and plan of care.

Confirmation fax sent to requesting physician:

Date: _______
Prepared by:____________________________________________