E/M Service Code Changes: Consultation

Changes were made to the Consultation service codes in 2006 (http://psychiatry.org/psych_pract/2006UpdateonCPTCoding.pdf). We apologize for the delay in incorporating these into the ICANotes program, but they are now functional.

The main change is that there are now no such things as follow up consultations. Instead, when a patient seen as a consult is seen for follow-up, the service code is the same as a subsequent examination at the site. So, for example, a follow up of a consultation in a hospital is coded as an In Patient, Subsequent Hospital Care, 99232.

Also, who requested the Consultation and the fact that a copy of the consultation was sent to the requester should be documented in your note. For those doing consults on a regular basis, user buttons for these purposes are recommended.