Coding > Coding

new patient vs. established patient

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oneround:
Eventhough there is no face to face encounter on the intial I would consider it new and any suqsequent vists after would be establised.

PMRNC:
I would still have to question the potential for trouble if it's a physician practice and a patient walks in off street or comes in for first time and gets flu shot.. That just does not sound right to me.

Michele:
We have a physician that did H1N1 flu shots for walkins last year.  The state/gov provided the vaccine and he could not charge for the injection, only the administration.  He had many patients that he did not have any history on.  There was very specific paperwork/protocol he had to follow and patient had to sign, however, he did not do and could not bill for an office visit.  Therefore, no history, etc, information gathering, so if the patient came back in at a later date for an appt, it was a new patient.

Michele

PMRNC:
But didn't he have to setup as a flu clinic? Aren't there guidelines on that ?

Michele:
I'm not sure if he did, I wouldn't have been involved in that part.  I know he's very up and up and wouldn't do anything not right by the book.  He is a strong believer in the H1N1 flu shot.  He's done a book and a video (DVD) on it and the flu epidemic in the 1920's.  He wanted to make sure people had access to free immunizations.  I personally had mine from him and I had to do all the paperwork.  He said "I gotta make sure all these papers are done right every time I give a shot" so I know he had done what he needed to to be able to give the vaccines.  I just don't know the details.  Now I will have to ask him, I see him on the 27th.

Michele

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