Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Coders can also help their consult-identifying cause by thinking of consults as a "circle of care." In a consultation, the requesting physician sends the patient to the gastroenterologist, who provides his opinion. At the end of the visit, the patient returns to the requesting physician for care and the circle is complete.

But if the gastroenterologist takes over the patient's treatment after the initial encounter, the circle is broken and the visit is likely a referral.

While there is a "circle of care" when your gastroenterologist provides a consultation, it looks more like a "direct line of care" when your gastroenterologist gives referral services.