do I have to do a face to face for billing a discharge

If I discharge someone in the nursing home OR hospital while in my office by talking to the nurse and social worker, and sending scripts, can I still bill the discharge OR MUST I see the patient face to face? Medicare CPT® guidelines just say history and exam "as appropriate' and document time spent. If I don't need to examine patient, or just review Vital signs with the nurse, I can still bill discharge, correct?

any guidance appreciated?

re: do I have to do a face to face for billing a discharge

there must be a visit on that day to bill for it

re: do I have to do a face to face for billing a discharge

In the nursing home, you can bill a discharge service on the day you see the patient, even if the order is for discharge in two days. For example, you see the patient Nov 1, schedule discharge for Nov 5. You can bill for discharge on Nov 1. If you don't go in either day, there is no billable service.

Here's a Codapedia article.

http://codapedia.com/article_135_Nursing-home-discharge-services.cfm