AmandaBriggs
Expert
Here is a scenario that I have been researching and thought I would reach out to my fellow coders to see what you think.
I work for a cardiology group and we routinely do pre-operative exams to determine the patient's cardiac risk for the upcoming surgical procedure. Sometimes we see these patients as referrals from the surgeons due to the patient's cardiac history, other times they are required by the anesthesiologist based on an abnormal pre-op EKG.
My question is this: When it comes to the table of risk on the E/M audit form can my cardiologist claim credit for elective major surgery w/ identified risk factors if he supports his reasoning even if he is not doing the surgery? He is addressing the underlying risk factors but not necessarily the specific problem that the patient is undergoing surgery for. I believe that because the surgeon is taking on the patient's surgical risk then he/she would receive this credit, not the cardiologist. However, I do have physicians that argue that these exams are very complex and entail a high degree of medical decision making in that the cardiologist is taking on the risk for surgery by "clearing" the patient.
I would love to see what other's take on this is. I've been researching for a while and can't seem to find anything that points me in one direction or another. Would love to see something written if anyone has anything.
I work for a cardiology group and we routinely do pre-operative exams to determine the patient's cardiac risk for the upcoming surgical procedure. Sometimes we see these patients as referrals from the surgeons due to the patient's cardiac history, other times they are required by the anesthesiologist based on an abnormal pre-op EKG.
My question is this: When it comes to the table of risk on the E/M audit form can my cardiologist claim credit for elective major surgery w/ identified risk factors if he supports his reasoning even if he is not doing the surgery? He is addressing the underlying risk factors but not necessarily the specific problem that the patient is undergoing surgery for. I believe that because the surgeon is taking on the patient's surgical risk then he/she would receive this credit, not the cardiologist. However, I do have physicians that argue that these exams are very complex and entail a high degree of medical decision making in that the cardiologist is taking on the risk for surgery by "clearing" the patient.
I would love to see what other's take on this is. I've been researching for a while and can't seem to find anything that points me in one direction or another. Would love to see something written if anyone has anything.
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