Wiki Collecting 2 copays at time of service

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themachine

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I work for a dermatology practice and the facility also staffs a pathologist available onsite. When the dermatologist performs a biopsy within the office and sends the specimen to the inhouse pathologist for review can we collect co-payments for the dermatologist and a second copayment for the pathologist. I was trained that only one co-payment per visit was allowed and that the patient had to be seen by the physician. Your coding knowledge on this matter would be appreciated.

Stephanie
 
Elizabeth,

Can you tell me where I can find this information because some of the office staff is telling me that you can. I am questioning this because I myself have never heard of two co-payments on the same date of service before. I was trained that to receive a physician's PCP or Specialist co-payment the patient had to have an encounter with a physcian.

Also, the front office staff is collecting the physician co-payment at the time of service, but that the insurance company is stating that a co-payment is also applicable on the dermapathologist procedure code.

Can you please clarify this for me. It would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
StephanieS
 
If you have confirmed with the patient's insurance then it would be correct to collect the 2 co pays. Many insurance plans differ but most do not require the collection of 2 co pays.
 
Since there is a separate claim for the dermatopathologist's charge for the tissue exam, the patient would be responsible for the benefits applicable for the path charge. In some cases it may be a copay, coins. or deductible.
If your office verifies the patient's benefit for 88304 or 88305 you would collect accordingly.
Same theory that if you did have an on site derm path - the patient would still have a bill from an outside path lab.
 
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