Wiki Help with Fx Coding

[cyrucats]

Our physician saw a patient with a broken talus but did not know it was broken until after the patient had left and the xrays were viewed. The doctor did no fracture care other than send the patient for xrays. She was also seen for several other issues at the same visit. Because the patient left before seeing the doctor after the xrays, he ordered a boot and faxed it to a supplier closer to the patients home.
The doctor's biller wants to bill a 99214, but we were told by an experienced coder that just because she came into his office with a fracture, the physician can charge the fracture code.
The other coder and myself do not agree. Can someone help us out here?

Thanks, Cyndi

 

[CrysLednum]

So you are saying that it was suggested that a fracture care code was suggested in addition to the office visit code?

It sounds to me that since the patient was seen for multiple issues and the fx not treated, that the doc should only be billing for the ofic visit and xrays.

Now if the patient were to come back in to the office and was specifically seen for fracture care, that's another story. that is not what is sounds like here.