Wiki Consultation

[tpardo]

I am having a "disagreement" with the coder in our practice regarding consultation coding...
If a patient is being seen by a cardiologist and the cardiologist calls & has an hour long conversation w/the referring physician - can the referring physician bill for a consultation???

I am adamantly saying no BUT she is stating that because the description states, "Counseling and/or coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals" that this constitutes the referring physician billing the consultation code...

Help!!!!!

Thanks so much...
Tresha

 

[OCD_coder]

The cardiologist must perform the service in the presence of the patient, so if he is in his office talking for an hour to the referring physician and the patient is in the exam room or waiting area, this time cannot be counted towards counseling time or total time either one.

The referring physician receiving the call cannot bill for anything for a "phone call" conversation the patient is not present.