READER QUESTIONS:
Same Stay = Follow-up Consult
Published on Sat Mar 19, 2005
Question: Our neurologist was called for an inpatient consult for a head injury patient. The patient was discharged, then admitted by another physician five days later. The second admitting physician once again called our neurologist for a consult. Do we charge for a follow-up consult, and do we charge for another inpatient consult?
Florida subscriber
Answer: You should report an inpatient consultation code (9925x) when the neurologist provides an initial consultation during a different hospital admission. Use a follow-up consultation code (9926x) when the neurologist provides an additional consult(s) during the same hospital stay.