Question

2. Dr. Russell saw Mr. James in the office. Dr. Russell took Mr. James history, performed an examination and admitted him as an inpatient that same day. Should the services be provided by Dr. Russell in her office be coded as an outpatient visit (99201-99215) or as initial hospital care (99221-99223)? 3. In June 2003, Dr. Smith saw Mrs. Washington in the office. Although Mrs. Washington had been a patient of Dr. Smith for 25 years, Dr. Smith had not provided any services for Mrs. Washington since January 1998. Dr. Smith took Mrs. Washington's history, performed an examination and wrote her a prescription. Should this encounter be coded as a new patient office visit (99201-99205) or an established patient office visit (99211-99215)? 4. Mrs. Honeycut saw Dr. Mayo in his office in January 1996. In March 2001, Mrs. Honeycut called Dr. Mayo's office with a minor problem. Mrs. Honeycut discussed the problem with Dr. Mayo's nurse who, in turn, discussed the problem with Dr. Mayo. Dr. Mayo called in a prescription for Mrs. Honeycut. In August 2001, Dr. Mayo saw Mrs. Honeycut in the office. Dr. Mayo took Mrs. Honeycut's history, performed an examination and wrote a new prescription. Should this encounter be coded as a new patient office visit (99201-99205) or an established patient office visit (99211-99215)?

Answer 1

2. Initial hospital care (99221-99223) should be coded as the patient was admitted as an inpatient.

3. New patient office visit (99201-99205) should be coded as Mrs. Washington did not receive services in that last three years.

4. New patient office visit (99201-99205) should be coded as Mrs. Honeycut did not encounter face to face treatment in the last three years.