Wiki COVID TELEPHONE NURSE TRIAGE VISIT

[bbush]

I work at a family practice clinic. We are getting a lot of calls regarding patients who have tested positive for Covid-19 that wants an order to go to the local hospital for the infusion that is being given. Can we charge a telephone visit for that? If so does the NP need to talk to the patient or can the nurse triage the patient?

 

[thomas7331]

The NP would need to personally talk to the patient. Otherwise, it should not be billed because it would not meet 'incident to' requirements for coverage. In order for a service to be covered, the provider must have personally evaluated the patient and written a plan of care with an order for that service. Ancillary staff cannot diagnose a patient or write orders, so a triage by before the physician has actually evaluated the patient for that problem is, by itself, is not a billable service.