Pediatric Coding Alert

Question: Should I include telephone calls that a nurse makes in care plan oversight services?
 
California Subscriber

 Answer: No. You should only count calls involving the pediatrician toward minutes for 99374-99375 (Physician supervision of a patient under care of home health agency [patient not present] in home, domiciliary or equivalent environment ...).
 
The same rule applies to telephone calls (99371-99373). CPT specifies that  these codes are for "telephone call by a physician."