I work in a ENT specialty practice with 4 docs, and am having an issue with the coding of consults with one of them.
The doc will bill a consult for pt Joe Doe, with a dx of chronic sinusitis. He will then perform any procedures needed (scope, etc..) along with the office visit. In his opinion, if he discharges the pt from his care, along with documentation in the pt's med recs stating that he is done treating the issue, he can then turn around and bill another consult at any point for this same pt with the SAME DX if the requesting physician sends the pt back. Is this appropriate?
I understand that a consult can be for a new or established pt, but how many consults can one doc charge for a pt, if they are continually sent back to our doc, even with the same dx?
I'm looking for documentation from an official source to show my doc. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks for your help,
Sarah
The doc will bill a consult for pt Joe Doe, with a dx of chronic sinusitis. He will then perform any procedures needed (scope, etc..) along with the office visit. In his opinion, if he discharges the pt from his care, along with documentation in the pt's med recs stating that he is done treating the issue, he can then turn around and bill another consult at any point for this same pt with the SAME DX if the requesting physician sends the pt back. Is this appropriate?
I understand that a consult can be for a new or established pt, but how many consults can one doc charge for a pt, if they are continually sent back to our doc, even with the same dx?
I'm looking for documentation from an official source to show my doc. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks for your help,
Sarah