Consultation Request by Another Specialty

Question:

Cardiology performs a procedure on an inpatient, and later in the day, the patient develops a pseudoaneurysm. When vascular is called in to evaluate the patient, can vascular bill for the evaluation?

Answer:

Yes, vascular can bill for an appropriate level E/M inpatient or consultation. The cardiologist is requesting the skill of a vascular surgeon to evaluate a vascular condition that is separate from the preceding cardiology procedure (i.e., complication).

*This response is based on the best information available as of 4/24/25.