Medical Billing Forum

General Category => General Questions => : PMBS April 01, 2009, 12:02:53 PM

: HMMMM
: PMBS April 01, 2009, 12:02:53 PM
I have a question.  I had a patient call who wanted to interview the doctor before he decided if he wanted his dad to see the doctor.  I have never come across this situation before.  How would that be billed to Medicare if the patient is not really coming in for a problem and what code and diganosis would we bill?

Thanks

MR

: Re: HMMMM
: Pay_My_Claims April 01, 2009, 02:35:10 PM
We have had this happen, but it was rare. We never billed for it however. It was just new patients who wanted to meet the physician prior to scheduling an appointment. We always explained that they may have to wait as the physician is seeing patients, but we can put them in for a 5 min "meet n greet". Its like applying for a job. I am in need of a dr, so Dr X is applying. I ask a few questions then I decide if I want to give him the job or not. We also had pamphlets that we gave to clients with physician information in them.
: Re: HMMMM
: Michele April 01, 2009, 04:04:42 PM
I agree with Charlene, you can't really bill for this.  Basically the dr is donating a couple of minutes of his time in order to obtain a new patient, who will hopefully become long term.  Look at it as an advertising expense.  As Charlene said advise the person that you can't actually schedule an appt, but that he can come in and the dr will take a couple of minutes between patients to speak to him, but it may be a wait.  Of course if you make him wait too long that might make him decide not to come there.

Michele
: Re: HMMMM
: PMBS April 01, 2009, 11:51:11 PM
Thanks guys.  I figuered you couldn't bill for that type of service.   It just caught me off guard because I never came across that situation.

 :D
: Re: HMMMM
: Pay_My_Claims April 02, 2009, 12:51:48 PM
You are welcome.
: Re: HMMMM
: PMRNC April 04, 2009, 03:20:28 PM
I agree with everyone else. I did primary mental health and pediatrics and this came up a lot. My clients would do the same as the other poster mentioned.. offer them a 5 or 10 min meeting in between patients but they would not bill for it. I myself interviewed my kids pediatrician prior to going to him I don't think I would have bothered if he was going to bill for a quick meet and greed <g>

Linda Walker
PMRNC
www.billerswebsite.com