Wiki Prevenative Visit with counseling

[gherimicheleCPC]

Our new doctor is billing 99397's with face to face time for additional counseling on coordination of care with pt (99402). Does the 99397 need a modifier and/or isn't that counseling already included in that visit and it should only be coded as a 99397?

 

[ewinnacott]

Did the doctor document total time spent with the patient and how much was spent on counseling and what he counseled them on?? I know that over 50% or more of the time needs to be spent counseling or he has to document how many minutes he spent counseling with patient otherwise it's included in the 99397.

Hope this helps

 

[mitchellde]

You cannot apply the 50% counseling rule to preventive encounters as there is no timed component for this encounter. any counseling that occurs during a preventive is part of that encounter and is not separately billable.

 

[gherimicheleCPC]

Thanks Debra your always a great help.