| As per the 2010 fee schedule, for Medicare patients | | | | physician of the same group practice and specialty |
| you’ll be skipping the 99241-99255 (consultations) | | | | hasn’t seen the patient in the last 3 years. And in |
| section of CPT. In the new year, you will report an | | | | case the patient was seen within the last 3 years, you |
| appropriate non-consult E/M code for Medicare | | | | would have to bill 99214 because Medicare will no |
| patients even if the visit meets CPT’s consult | | | | longer accept consult codes. |
| requirements. | | | | Watch out: The CPT 2010 manual does not delete the |
| According to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule | | | | consult codes; as such, other payers may continue to |
| (MPFS) Final Rule, “Starting January 1, 2010, we will | | | | accept them. You should therefore check so that you |
| eliminate the use of all consultation codes on a budget | | | | meet all necessary requirements such as having a |
| neutral basis by increasing the work RVUs for new | | | | written request on file. |
| and established office visits and for initial hospital and | | | | It pays to know: Even if only Medicare does away |
| initial nursing facility visits.” | | | | with consultation codes, specialty practices will feel the |
| Before: Previously, if a cardiologist in the office setting | | | | pinch for sure. |
| performed a consult for an established patient with | | | | For the latest on Medicare 2010 consultation codes, |
| 786.50 that involved detailed history, detailed | | | | there are various one-stop coding websites, which |
| examination, and medical decision making of low | | | | come loaded with all the changes. So sign up for one |
| complexity, you would report 99243. | | | | today and be prepared for what’s to come as far |
| Now: But in 2010, for Medicare patients, you’ll have | | | | as consult codes are concerned. |
| to report 99203 if the consulting cardiologist or another | | | | |