So last week we had a pt come in that had sutures placed in the ER. She came to us to have them removed. I told my manager the pt was still in the Global and we would not get paid for the removal. She told me to NOT bill the removal, just bill an office visit for the laceration. Ok.
This week we have another pt come in for the same thing, only NOT in the Global. I bill the Office visit for the laceration. OM calls me and says I need to change the diagnosis to SUBSEQUENT visit, because the ER saw the pt first.
This makes no sense to me. If it is the first time WE are seeing the pt for this diagnosis, shouldn't it be initial visit?