Proper Use of 99051, and the Status of S9088
Q. Can I bill the CPT code 99051 (Services(s) provided in office during regularly scheduled, weekend, or holiday office hours, in addition to basic service) for the purpose of getting a denial? Can I bill a Medicare patient for the 99051 code if I have an advanced beneficiary notice (ABN) completed? Anonymous, Texas A. This is a very interesting question, and I am sure it will generate significant controversy. In regard to your question about …
Read MoreDeveloping Data: July/August, 2009
In early 2008, UCA revamped its annual survey in conjunction with researchers at Massachusetts general Hospital and Harvard University with the goal of assuring that the UCA Benchmarking Committee’s efforts produced a scientifically valid report. Here we present some of the findings from this landmark survey, to which 436 urgent care centers responded. In this issue: How much time do patients spend in urgent care centers, on average? These data support – and, perhaps just …
Read MoreMedication Supplies, New Patient E/M, and Skin Shaving Vs. Skin Biopsy
Q. On our new superbill, there is a spot to code for Phenergan (generic is promethazine HCI) 50 mg when administered intramuscularly. How would we code for Phenergan when the physician orders Phenergan 25 mg IM? Do we mark the code x ½? Anonymous, Illinois A. If you administer 50 mg of promethazine or any portion of 50 mg, then you use code J2550 (injection, promethazine HCI, up to 50 mg). For example: 25 mg …
Read MoreDeveloping Data: June, 2009
In early 2008, UCA revamped its annual survey in conjunction with researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University with the goal of assuring that the UCA Benchmarking Committee’s efforts produced a scientifically valid report. Here we present some of the findings from the landmark survey, to which 436 urgent care centers responded. In this issue: What benefits do urgent care centers provide for their physician employees? Acknowledgement: Adapted from Urgent Care Centers in the …
Read MoreIdentifying, Contacting, and Cultivating the ‘Best’ Contact Person
Identifying the right contact person at a prospective client company begins with a sound, well-conceptualized, and up to date mailing list. Central to the list is the name of the individual responsible for the health and safety of the workforce. This information needs to be verified or updated regularly, something that could be accomplished by having a clerical staff member or high school student call every employer in your database each summer.
Read MoreA Short Course in Tort
John Shufeldt, MD, JD, MBA, FACEP I just completed teaching a semester of Health Law and Ethics at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Over the next few months in this column, my goal is to distill te 40-hour course down to a few pages chock full of practical legal information. Lesson 1: Torts A tort is a civil wrong committed against a person or property interest for which the court …
Read MoreCoding for Observation, and More on Established vs. New Patients
Q. Is it possible for observation status codes (99217-99220) to be billed in an urgent care facility? A. Observation codes will require the point of service (POS) to be a hospital. If your urgent care is operated by a hospital and you can legitimately use a hospital POS, then you may be able to use these codes. If you use the physician office (POS-11) or urgent care (POS-20) place-of-service codes, then you could not use …
Read MoreEvaluating Your Clinic’s Competitive Strengths
Pull Up! Pull Up!
I am often asked what inspired my love of flying. Although this is the first time I have admitted it in public, I am proud to say that it all began with the movie Airplane! Dr. Rumack: You’d better tell the captain we’ve got to land as soon as we can. This woman has to be gotten to a hospital. Elaine Dickinson: A hospital? What is it? Dr. Rumack: It’s a big building with patients, …
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