New vs. Established Patients using E/M Coding Archives

Hospital Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Proximity, New vs. Established Patients using E/M Coding, Private Practice Urgent Care Coding

DAVID STERN, MD (Practice Velocity) Q. If a practice buys or opens an urgent care facility that is not in a hospital nor affiliated with a hospital, should we be using routine E/M codes for our visits? Secondly, do we have to follow the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) Guidelines? A. Yes. You should use the same E/M codes as used by the physician offices (990201-99215). EMTALA does not apply to urgent …