decisionhealth Newsletters, Part B News - 2007 Issue 5 (May)
Teletreatment: Document patient phone calls to bill higher E/M service
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Article Overview
This article explains the documentation and billing considerations surrounding patient phone calls in medical practice. It is aimed at physicians, coders, billers, and practice managers who handle evaluation and management documentation, patient communication policies, and reimbursement questions tied to non-visit encounters. The piece focuses on general guidance for incorporating phone-call information into the record, the relationship between telephone communication and later office visits, and the limits of separately billing these calls under Medicare.
Why This Topic Matters
Phone-based patient communication is common, but incomplete documentation can affect both compliance and the ability to support the appropriate level of evaluation and management service at a subsequent visit. Understanding the general billing treatment of these interactions helps practices manage reimbursement risk and documentation quality.
What You Will Learn
- How phone-call documentation can affect later evaluation and management reporting
- Why practices may adopt policies for handling patient calls without an office visit
- What general billing limitations apply to patient phone calls under Medicare
- How call content may relate to history and medical decision making in future visits
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Practice managers
- Medical coders
- Medical billers
- Nursing staff
- Compliance staff
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