Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert
Reader Question:
"No Charge" Visits Still Count Toward Established Patient Status
Published on Tue Dec 01, 2015
Question: Our ophthalmologist saw a patient during a quick assessment last year at no charge. The patient returned this week for a complete exam. Should this be billed as an established patient or new?
Codify Subscriber
Answer: In this situation, the patient will be considered “established” because you already treated him during a face-to-face encounter within the last three years, which constitutes an established patient under the CPT® guidelines.
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