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billing for dietitians

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Anne:
I am a biller for PT and OT (in home business) - this evening got a call from a dietitian asking if I would be interested in doing billing for her.  I said I was definitely interested - (I absolutely do want new clients) - got her number and said I'd call tomorrow to discuss it.  I've never billed for a dietitian - Only PT and OT.  My question is - in general, is billing for dietitians a lot different - more complicated? She sees Medicaid patients, she said, but that's about all the info. I got from her (since she called while I was driving, said I would call her back tomorrow).   I do a lot of billing for Medicaid patients now, so that's not a problem.  If someone could just give me idea if I would be taking on something completely different - I'm willing to learn new things, but don't want to pretend that I know more than I do.  Thanks

Alice Scott:
It used to always freak me out when we would pick up a provider that was totally different than any other billing I had done.  Dietitian billing really is not much different then what you are already doing.  Just different codes.  You will be fine.  She will be providing you with those codes, and the insurances should be about the same that you are already doing, so once you get some claims, you will realize that it isn't much different.

Good luck.
Michele

Anne:
Thanks - I appreciate your encouragement.  I'm sure I'll have more questions soon. 

Anne:
I've been reading the Medicaid website to find out how much a dietitian will be reimbursed for codes 97802 and 97803.  It's unclear to me.  It says $17.18 per 15 min unit for 97802 which is RVU amt - then it says conversion factor $28.64.  So, I don't know which amt is paid.  Also, it seems very limited on how many units can be billed.   Does anyone out there bill for a clinical dietitian?  If so, I'd love to ask some questions.  This would be a new client for me, and a new specialty.

Michele:
I haven't billed for any dietitians, but I am familiar with the 97802 & 97803 codes.   

I would contact Medicaid and ask them to explain how they calculate payment based on the RVU and conversion factors.  They should be able to explain it to you.

Hopefully someone else on the forum has had experience with dietitian billing and will respond as well.   8)

Michele

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