We added a new physician to our practice. Many of his patients from his previous practice have followed him and are now seeing him in our office. We are trying to determine the appropriate E&M for their initial visit to our office. Is it appropriate to bill the initial visit as a new patient?

Per CPT rules if the physician has seen the patient within the past 3 years, he should report the services as an established patient. If the 3 years has expired, then the patient again becomes an established patient.

Mary LeGrand, RN, MA, CCS-P
KarenZupko & Associates, Inc.