Billing Two E/M Codes Same Day, Same Specialty and Group Explained.

Is it possible to get paid for providing two separate and identifiable face-to-face evaluation and management (E/M) charges on the same calendar date that are provided by the same physician or physicians in the same speciality from the same group practice?  The answer is yes, under certain circumstances.   I just have to make sure my documentation meets certain criteria. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services  reviewed a specific situation in an August 26th, 2011 claims processing transmittal titled  Clarification of Evaluation and Management Payment Policy (change request 7405) that mandates Medicare carriers to approve payment for two E/M charges in the same day by the same physician or physicians in the same specialty and group practice, under certain circumstances. What are the circumstances for which two E/M charges will get paid in the same day?  You can find the exact text and associated explanation in the above linked pdf file under section 30.6.9 A (11 pages into the document) which describes a hospital visit and critical care on the same day.   The key to billing two E/M charges  is to provide critical care CPT® 99291 for your second face-to-face encounter. For many hospitalist groups, signing out to cross covering physicians is part of the job.  For years I have been  paged to the bedside to provide a face-to-face evaluation on patients who have already been seen and billed for their  I...
Source: The Happy Hospitalist - Category: Internists and Doctors of Medicine Authors: Source Type: blogs