Wiki RN Level 1 Visit

[jenp2005]

Can you bill a RN Level 1 visit with a lab draw like a PT/INR and if so what critieria needs to be met?

 

[sullivak]

There needs to be a separate and identifiable E/M service. So that means there needs to be medical necessity for a nursing visit beyond just getting their labs drawn. Perhaps the patient comes in with a concern about a skin lesion, and the nurse examines the area. There's an e/m service.

 

[mitchellde]

A nurse cannot examine a new problem for the patient and charge a level of care. A nurse (RN, LPN), may only follow the providers orders from a previous encounter and there must be a provider in the office at the time of the visit. You may not use a 99211 for a blood collection encounter, there are unique CPT code especially for this service.

 

[sullivak]

Thanks for pointing that out, Debra. I was sloppy when I came up with that example.

 

[swilliams2]

Pt/inr

I agree that you can not bill a 99211 for blood collection. But I do believe it CAN BE appropriate to bill a 99211 and also collect blood for a PT/INR at the same time. It is quite common for offices to have PT clinics where nurses are following orders provided by and supervised by a physician. If documented well, you can definetly get paid for the work being done.