Pulmonology Coding Alert

Your pay hinges on differentiating pulmonologists role from allergists. Allergy season often presents the dilemma of when and how both an allergist and pulmonologist can report services for the same patient. Read on for tips to optimize your coding when this situation arises. Familiarize Yourself With Medicares Slant Medicare reimburses for concurrent care when physicians provide services more extensive than consultations and when both physicians play an active role in the patients ongoing care. To get paid in a concurrent care scenario, you must be able to justify having two related specialties on board, says Carol Pohlig, BSN, RN, CPC, senior coding and education specialist at the University of Pennsylvania department of medicine in Philadelphia. Follow these two rules of thumb to help ensure payment: 1) Diagnosis: Verify that the diagnosis or diagnoses support the medical necessity of involving two specialists in the patients care, and 2) Unique services: Clarify [...]