Wiki E&M ,A general practitioner sees the patient for 4 visits, and later he upgrades to a specialist. Is the next visit of the same patient New or Est?

ksarith9@gmail.com

Networker
Messages
35
Location
Kannur, KL
Best answers
0
E&M, A general practitioner sees the patient for 4 visits, and later he upgrades to a specialist. Is the next visit of the same patient New or Est?
 
Hi there, if the next visit is within the 3 year period the patient is still established.
 
What is the specialty of the "specialist" the patient is upgrading to? If they are of a different specialty and subspecialty then it potentially could be a new patient visit with the specialist.
 
I'm finding the wording of your question a little vague.
If the patient is seeing the same physician for visit #5, it is established. This is regardless of the specialty/subspecialty or group.
If the patient is seeing a different physician of the same specialty/subspecialty in the same group practice, it is established.
If the patient is seeing a physician of a DIFFERENT specialty/subspecialty in the same group practice, it is new.
If the patient is seeing a physician of a different group practice (regardless of specialty), it is new.
Keep in mind that Medicare uses only their 2 digit specialty codes to distinguish specialties, but commercial insurances will typically distinguish by taxonomy codes which has many more options for specialty.
 
Top