12 Things Hospitalists Need to Know About Billing and Coding
12 Things Hospitalists Need to Know About Billing and Coding
A transfer can occur either from a different facility or from a hospital floor to a rehabilitation unit. Either way, the patient is seen twice in one day, with each visit covered by the same hospitalist practice.
"Both physicians often report a separate independent visit. However, because these services occurred on the same day, it is not appropriate to bill for two separate subsequent or initial hospital codes," says Sherri Dumford, MBA, CHBME, director of operations and past president of the Healthcare Billing and Management Association. "Often what will happen is both services will be reported and get through the billing system. The second claim is just written off as a denied service, when, in fact, you could combine the elements of service of both visits and possibly bill for a single higher level of visit."
9 Learn the Correct Coding for Patients Being Transferred
A transfer can occur either from a different facility or from a hospital floor to a rehabilitation unit. Either way, the patient is seen twice in one day, with each visit covered by the same hospitalist practice.
"Both physicians often report a separate independent visit. However, because these services occurred on the same day, it is not appropriate to bill for two separate subsequent or initial hospital codes," says Sherri Dumford, MBA, CHBME, director of operations and past president of the Healthcare Billing and Management Association. "Often what will happen is both services will be reported and get through the billing system. The second claim is just written off as a denied service, when, in fact, you could combine the elements of service of both visits and possibly bill for a single higher level of visit."
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