Medical Billing Forum

General Category => New! => : ste December 16, 2009, 05:42:37 AM

: consult codes
: ste December 16, 2009, 05:42:37 AM

CMS does it again. Forget about Consult codes.

CMS decides to stop paying for consult codes. Although CMS stands alone on this issue for now others soon will follow. Instead of coding for consults, physicians will be forced to code for a visit, resulting in lower reimbursements.
Physicians will experience decreased reimbursements amounting to 20 or 30%.

Steve

: Re: consult codes
: Michele December 16, 2009, 10:29:17 PM

Steve,

    I couldn't believe it when I read it!  How can they do that?  And as I ask that little voice in my head says "It's the government silly!"

Michele

: Re: consult codes
: DMK December 17, 2009, 08:18:28 PM

This is why MD's are now telling their Medicare patients that they get one question per visit.  They can't afford to spend the usual amount of time to cover everything in one appointment.  It's more cost effective to bring them in several times. :P