Hint: You can't automatically tack 99211 on to every service just because the nurse was present. Most pediatric practices agree that 99211 is a ubiquitous code, reported nearly every day for visits ranging from blood pressure checks to medication updates. But the so-called "nurse visit" code may not always be appropriate. Many payers are scrutinizing these claims and targeting them as "areas of concern." Check out these common clinical scenarios and determine whether 99211 is appropriate for the circumstances. Will 99211 Cover Vaccines? Question 1: A patient presents for vaccines only. The nurse administers two vaccines and the patient leaves. Should you report 99211 with the vaccine administration codes? Answer 1: In this case, if a medically necessary E/M services is provided by the nurse, you will need to append modifier 25 (Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service) to 99211. However, documentation of a vaccine alone would not allow you to meet the requirements of 99211. Example: Know Whether 99211 Applies to X-Rays Question 2: A 13-year-old patient comes to see the pediatrician for leg pain after getting injured during a football game. The staff performs x-rays and then the patient waits in the exam room for the pediatrician, but the patient's mother gets a call and she and her son have to leave before actually seeing the physician. Does 99211 apply to this visit? Answer 2: In short, Woodward says, you cannot report 99211 unless an actual face-to-face evaluation and management service was provided. Can You Downcode to 99211 for Incomplete Physician Notes? Question 3: A patient presents for a visit but the physician fails to complete the office note, leaving his portion completely blank, although the nurse completes her portion. When asked about the visit after the fact, the physician does not remember the details of the visit. Can you report just the nurse's portion of the visit with 99211, or should you not bill the claim at all? Answer 3: "It is important to document the fact that the visit was actually done on the date of service it occurred and ideally if the staff is proficient in this case, will also document the fact that the patient was seen by the doctor but no documentation was made specifically by the physician so it was not billed as a 'physician face to face' visit per guidelines set forth in CPT®," McDonald adds. Is Face-to-Face Required? Question 4: A mother and her daughter come in to drop off a urine sample to make sure the daughter's recurrent urine tract infection (UTI) has resolved. Does the dropoff warrant reporting 99211? Answer 4: