Primary Care Coding Alert

Question: Can we charge the insurance company for having the physician complete disability paperwork? Most of the paperwork is 10 pages long and takes a lot of the doctors time.

New York Subscriber

 
Answer: You can charge for filling out disability paperwork by billing 99080 (Special reports such as insurance forms, more than the information conveyed in the usual medical communications or standard reporting form) with the appropriate E/M office visit code. Code 99080 is an adjunct code, meaning it has to be reported in addition to another service. Most physicians prefer to see the patient to complete the forms. For example, a patient who performs heavy manual labor presents with carpal tunnel syndrome and gives the physician disability paperwork to fill out. The FP evaluates the patient and spends 20 minutes filling out the paperwork. Bill the proper E/M office visit code with 99080. Report 354.0 (Carpal tunnel syndrome) as well.
 
You can also code for paperwork with 99455-99456 (Work related or medical disability examination ). These codes include completion of necessary documentation/ certificates and report in their descriptor.