I need some guidance or rather confirmation because I'm worried about my credentials and an audit.
Scenario 1: MFM Physician bills consults and only 99243's in the office 98% of the time regardless of documentation and the patient is followed through the end of their pregnancy and 99243 is always used on follow up visits as if it's still a consult.
Scenario 2: MFM Physician bills for Inpatient 99251-99254-POS 21/Follow up consults 99232-99233 POS-21 but they do not ever go to the bed side or on the floor to see them; they see them only in the office POS 11.
Scenario 3: Patient's are brought from the hospital to the office to have their ultrasounds 76819/76817/76911 or 76816 with POS 11 but charge IP consult codes POS 21 with the scan(s). They do this because they insist our equipment is better and that they have talked to "their colleagues" and this is the way it's done.
My position on Scenario 1 is if we get a referral for the office consult and the patient is scheduled out till they deliver due to the high risk pregnancy then the E/M established follow up codes should be used and not consult codes. It's not like we are confirming or reconfirming high risk issues. Is my thinking incorrect? Scenario 2: I don't think we should ever charge inpatient codes if we didn't go to the hospital to see the patient and provide a "consult." Really-do I need to retire my credentials or find a new job? Scenario 3: IDK Pls help!
Scenario 1: MFM Physician bills consults and only 99243's in the office 98% of the time regardless of documentation and the patient is followed through the end of their pregnancy and 99243 is always used on follow up visits as if it's still a consult.
Scenario 2: MFM Physician bills for Inpatient 99251-99254-POS 21/Follow up consults 99232-99233 POS-21 but they do not ever go to the bed side or on the floor to see them; they see them only in the office POS 11.
Scenario 3: Patient's are brought from the hospital to the office to have their ultrasounds 76819/76817/76911 or 76816 with POS 11 but charge IP consult codes POS 21 with the scan(s). They do this because they insist our equipment is better and that they have talked to "their colleagues" and this is the way it's done.
My position on Scenario 1 is if we get a referral for the office consult and the patient is scheduled out till they deliver due to the high risk pregnancy then the E/M established follow up codes should be used and not consult codes. It's not like we are confirming or reconfirming high risk issues. Is my thinking incorrect? Scenario 2: I don't think we should ever charge inpatient codes if we didn't go to the hospital to see the patient and provide a "consult." Really-do I need to retire my credentials or find a new job? Scenario 3: IDK Pls help!