Reader Question: Don’t Schedule This Code for Late Patients

Article Overview

This article answers a reader question about office after-hours billing in the context of an outpatient patient encounter. It explains the general setting in which the guidance applies, notes the relationship to an accompanying evaluation and management service, and discusses payer-specific handling at a high level. The piece is intended for coders, billers, and office staff who need to understand whether a late-arriving patient encounter falls within the scope of this office after-hours code.