Wiki Travel/Immunization Consults for Medicare Patients

[danadee30]

I hope someone can help me, my doc saw a husband and wife who have medicare and the visit consisted of them discussing what immunizations they need to travel overseas. First of all what E/M code can I use for this type of consult/visit. and was dx should I append also. My doctor spent an hour with both in consult. I am assuming that this will not be covered by Medicare in which the patients I'm sure will be upset. Thanks so much!
Dana

 

[FTessaBartels]

Travel Medicine

Our Travel Medicine clinic tells patients who call for an appointment that
1) we do not bill ANY insurance (virtually no insurance pays for this)
2) the consult fee is $x and is payable in full at the time of your visit
3) the fee for any recommended immunizations can range from $Y to $Z per immunization, and is payable in full at the time of the vist.

Will will send the patient a statement outlining services provided. IF patients want to submit to their insurance on their own, they are free to do so.

To answer your question directly ... you would bill the appropriate level of E/M based on time spent in counseling/coordination of care. If he saw them both together ... not sure how you'll divide the time (or perhaps just bill one patient for the entire time).

Hope that helps.

F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC