This is a great question that I wish more eye coders would ask:
Sometimes when a patient comes in for a comprehensive eye exam they do not have the time or are unprepared to have the dilated part of the eye exam performed. You can have them come back the next day or the day after, for the dilation and dilated exam portion (when they have the time or a ride home after the exam). Performing the exam in this fashion does not constitute two separate exams simply because you have ?one or more visits? to get the exam completed.
Please, please, please do not bill out the comprehensive eye exam code until the patient has come back in and the total exam is completed. You can still bill the code with the date of service that the exam was started on but hold the claim until the exam is completed.
Hope this helps!
John D. Uecke CPC, CPB, CPMA, CMCO, CMIS, CMOM, CHA, MCMC, COBS, OCS