Inpatient E/M Coding

Question:

I did an inpatient consultation and coded 99253 (non-Medicare). I did not need to follow the patient so I signed off. They asked me to re-consult a week later. What is the code for a re-consult?

Answer:

There are no specific E/M codes for an inpatient re-consultation. You’ll use the subsequent hospital care code, 9923x, since it’s the same admission for the patient.

Question:Follow up question: the patient was discharged then admitted a month later and I was consulted again. Is this a subsequent hospital care code?

Answer:

No, since it’s a new admission for the patient, you’ll use the consultation code again (9925x).

Question:Last question: when I see the patient in my office a month later, is it a new patient?

Answer:

No, it’s an established patient (9921x) because you’ve had a face-to-face visit with the patient in the previous 3 years.