Good morning,
I'm finding the description of new patient vs established patient as it related to this example a little confusing. Hope someone can give me their opinion.
If I see a provider at an urgent care facitlity continually. The provider is acting as my PCP. The provider decides to leave the urgent care and join a practice three weeks after my last visit at the urgent care center. Am I now a "new patient" at your new office or am I still an "established patient".
The description says, " A new patient is one who has not received any professional services from the physician or another physician of the same specialty who belongs to the same group practice, within three years."
Does it matter what practice I belong to? I could keep moving practices and charging existing patients "new patient fees"? Is this ethical or allowed according to CPT guideline?
Thanks in advance for your help and advice?
Mary Beth
I'm finding the description of new patient vs established patient as it related to this example a little confusing. Hope someone can give me their opinion.
If I see a provider at an urgent care facitlity continually. The provider is acting as my PCP. The provider decides to leave the urgent care and join a practice three weeks after my last visit at the urgent care center. Am I now a "new patient" at your new office or am I still an "established patient".
The description says, " A new patient is one who has not received any professional services from the physician or another physician of the same specialty who belongs to the same group practice, within three years."
Does it matter what practice I belong to? I could keep moving practices and charging existing patients "new patient fees"? Is this ethical or allowed according to CPT guideline?
Thanks in advance for your help and advice?
Mary Beth