Question

1. Dr. Johnson (an internist) saw Ms. Bane. Dr. Johnson suspected a gynecological problem. Dr. Johnson called Dr. Thomas (an OB/GYN) and asked her to evaluate Ms. Bane. There was no written request sent to Dr. Thomas by Dr. Johnson. However, based on Dr. Johnson’s verbal request (which was documented by Dr. Thomas and Dr. Johnson in each of their medical records), Dr. Thomas saw Ms. Bane in the office. She took Ms. Bane’s history and performed an examination. She then wrote Dr. Johnson and provided him with her opinion regarding Ms. Bane, recommended a course of treatment (which was filed in Ms. Bane’s medical record) and thanked him for the referral. Should Dr. Thomas’s services in the office be coded as an office visit (99201-99215) or an office consultation (99241-99245)?

2. Same as above except Dr. Thomas also wrote a prescription for Ms. Bane and made a follow-up appointment for Ms. Bane to see her again in three days. Should Dr. Thomas’s initial services (not the follow-up visit) be coded as an office visit (99201-99215) or an office consultation (99241-99245)?

3. Same as above. At the conclusion of the follow-up visit, Dr. Thomas wrote Dr. Johnson again providing him with an update on her opinion regarding Ms. Bane. Should Dr. Thomas’s follow-up services be coded as an office visit (99211-99215) or an office consultation (99241-99245)?

4. Same as above except a week later Dr. Johnson saw Ms. Bane again. He was concerned that her condition had not cleared up so he called Dr. Thomas and asked her to reevaluate Mrs. Bane and provide an updated opinion. Dr. Thomas documented Dr. Johnson’s verbal request and saw Ms. Bane in the office. She took Ms. Bane’s history and performed and examination. She then wrote Dr. Johnson and provided him with her updated opinion regarding Ms. Bane and recommended a revised course of treatment. Should Dr. Thomas’s services in the office be coded as an office visit (99201-99215) or an office consultation (99241-99425)?

Answer 1

office visit (99201-99215) or an office consultation (99241-99245) these are specific code number for the patient which is unique for every individual as a patient in hospital.

These number act as patient's identity, whenver patient comes to hospital he will get services with this code only. These code is entered in computers and feed the data with these codes only. These codes are patient;s unique identity.

So everytime, any doctor with any referral will use these codes only.