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Two consults, same doctor
Patient comes to the office with colon cancer and is referred to our Radiation dept for consult. They see the patient and bill new consult/new patient and dx for colon cancer. Same patient comes back 2 years later for new diagnosis of lung cancer and again the Hematology doctor sends to radiation department for consult again, can the radiation doctor bill new consult/new patient visit again because of the seperate/new diagnosis? Would we have to wait the new patient rule of 3 years before we billed new patient/consult again?
consult
There is no "new" patient consult. It is outpatient or inpatient. If criteria is met, consult is OK unless Medicare. If a Medicare patient would be established patient because was seen within three years.