I have been trying to figure out my surgeons consultation codes. His previous coder was still using 99241-99245 and 99251-99255 and we do Medicare and Wellmark- so now I'm trying to figure out how to bill his stuff. Here's all of my questions. If anyone has any advice on how to not over think these, that would be greatly appreciated.
-If he does a consultation in the ER, then I can bill 99281-99285- correct?
-If he says the patient is new or established and the admit date is the same as his consultation date, then do I use initial hospital care- 99221-99223?
-If its a day after the admit date and he's seeing the patient, then is that the subsequent codes- 99231-99233?
-If he says he's keeping the patient overnight for observation, then do I use an oberservation code-99234-99236 or will that be billed out with the inpatient stuff?
-When do I bill normal 99201-99215 if the admit dates are the same as the consultants or do I consider those just regular outpatient visits???
Any help?
-If he does a consultation in the ER, then I can bill 99281-99285- correct?
-If he says the patient is new or established and the admit date is the same as his consultation date, then do I use initial hospital care- 99221-99223?
-If its a day after the admit date and he's seeing the patient, then is that the subsequent codes- 99231-99233?
-If he says he's keeping the patient overnight for observation, then do I use an oberservation code-99234-99236 or will that be billed out with the inpatient stuff?
-When do I bill normal 99201-99215 if the admit dates are the same as the consultants or do I consider those just regular outpatient visits???
Any help?