Use 99241-99255 for intraoperative consultations

Why This Topic Matters

Intraoperative consult situations can involve overlapping evaluation-and-management, procedure, and documentation issues. Understanding the scope of the guidance helps coders and clinicians determine whether an article applies to their operative workflow and documentation practices.

Article Sections

1. Intraoperative consultation reporting

   Discusses how operative-room consultation scenarios are framed for inpatient and outpatient settings and the documentation elements mentioned in the article.

2. When a procedure follows the consultation

   Covers the article’s discussion of what happens when the consulting surgeon also performs a procedure during the same operative encounter.

3. Why standby service is not the same as an intraoperative consultation

   Explains the article’s comparison between intraoperative consultation scenarios and standby-service reporting, including general limitations and payer considerations.

4. Medicare consultation criteria

   Summarizes the Medicare-related consultation criteria and documentation points referenced in the article, along with the official source citation.