READER QUESTIONS: Never Pass Up a Legitimate Consult

Article Overview

This article addresses a reader question about selecting the appropriate evaluation and management reporting category when a hospital contacts an on-call surgeon to see a patient in the emergency department. It explains the scenario at a high level, why the setting and the surgeon’s role matter for coding, and what documentation and service categories are generally involved. The discussion is aimed at coders and billing staff who handle hospital, emergency department, and consultation scenarios.