Reader Questions: New Medical Record Doesn't Mean New Patient

Article Overview

This short coding Q&A addresses CPT office visit patient-status classification in a group practice setting. It is aimed at coders, billers, and practice staff who need to understand how prior professional services affect whether a visit is considered new or established, and why medical record creation alone does not determine the category. The article gives a practical clarification of the general guidance and references the relevant CPT office visit code families.