tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2009 Issue 7

You Be the Coder: Face-to-Face Matters When Billing on Time

Question: My surgeon met with an elderly patients family to discuss treatment options and the patients plan of care. The patient was not present for this inoffice meeting. Can I still bill Medicare an E/M service based on the time spent with the family? What about if a patient is there with the family but due to cognitive issues is not mentally present or participating? Vermont Subscriber Answer: CPT does allow you to report new and established patient office visits without the patient present. When counseling and/or coordination of care account for more than 50 percent of the face-to-face...

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