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ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Reader Question:

Pass Up Payment for Phone Advice

Published on Thu Oct 28, 2004

Question: Should we bill for an emergency department service when the physician, while working in the ED, speaks to the patient on the telephone? What if he orders medication or other interventions?

Mississippi Subscriber Answer: No, you shouldn't bill for these kinds of services. For starters, most payers will not pay for services furnished over the phone. But regardless of reimbursement, providing medication or treatment interventions to an unknown patient over the phone is
ill-advised, and your physician probably shouldn't be offering these services in the first place.
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