When a patient is seen in the office one day, and then speaks to the Dr. on the phone a few days later to follow up, can the Dr. report code 99358 (REVISED IN 2012)? If yes, should code 99358 be dated for the date of service? Or for the phone call? How can we connect the phone call to the visit? ...
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Article Overview
This Find-A-Code article reviews a coding question about follow-up communication by phone after an office visit and explains the general relationship between office E/M services and non-face-to-face physician services. It is aimed at coders and billers who need to understand how telephone encounters are grouped with recent evaluation and management services and when separate reporting is considered. The article also references the time-based telephone call code family and a prolonged service code, making it relevant to those working with physician office encounters and post-visit communication.
Why This Topic Matters
Telephone follow-up after an office visit is a common scenario in physician practices, and determining whether it is separately reportable affects accurate documentation, billing, and compliance. The article helps readers identify the broad categories of services involved without substituting for the full coding guidance.
What You Will Learn
- How office visit follow-up by telephone is generally categorized for reporting purposes
- How non-face-to-face physician services relate to recent E/M services
- What broad considerations apply when a phone call follows a recent visit
- Why prolonged service questions may arise in post-visit communication scenarios
Who Should Read This
- Physician coders
- Medical billers
- Office practice managers
- Compliance staff
- Healthcare reimbursement professionals
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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