Wiki New patient or established Patient

[tpontillo]

The doctor sees a patient in the hospital and bills new patient when he sees this patient. The patient then comes back a few weeks later or maybe a few months later and the same doctor sees the patient again in the hospital. Would you bill a new patient or established patient? These are outpatient and we are billing the 99202-99205 codes. Also would it make a difference if we are seeing the patient for a different diagnosis each time?

 

[Cyndi113]

Once the MD sees the patient for face to face time, the patient is no longer new. He gets more points in the MDM for seeing the patient for a new dx but cannot bill 99201 - 99205.

Sorry,

 

[tpontillo]

Thats what I thought but I wanted to confirm it. Thank you