Wiki Initial professional visit w/patient not charged

[Page42]

If a physician provides a face-to-face professional service to a new patient but does not charge the patient or the patient's insurance, can the physician bill a new patient E/M at the next office visit to the patient or patient's insurance?

 

[mitchellde]

i do not think this would be correct, but why was there not a charge rendered for the first encounter?

 

[Page42]

Thanks for responding, Debra. The practice does a lot of marketing & one of their stategies to pull in new patients is to offer a 'free' screening exam to new patients. Most of the time it's a mid-level providing the service. But, I'm seeing too many claims for MD performance of the screening exam. I've talked to our Business Manager & the doctor about my concerns, but they feel that as this is such a 'gray' area, they are within their rights to code the next visit as a new patient. I'm trying to avoid submitting for an OIG decision until I have all my ducks in a row.