Outpatient Referrals/Authorization

Our doctors frequently send patients to the hospital on an outpatient basis for infussions, transfussions, and the like. If one of our providers does not see the patient while they are at the hospital can we still bill something for having written the orders, gotten insurance authorization, and coordinated with the hospital?

Billing

No you cannot. If an E/M was not performed, there is no bill.

"Bundling" at work

It is assumed that the coordination was part of the visit that discovered the need for infusion, transfusion, etc. So if the doc spends 30 min on the phone setting up the admit, writing orders, etc while the patient is there, code the visit by time

Did your physician see the patient?

I think from their responses that:

Signaturedoc is assuming that your physician saw the patient on that day, and spent the time setting up the infusion at the hospital.

Nmaguire is assuming that your doctor saw the patient March 1, and the infusion was set up for March 5. The o.v. on the first is payable, but no extra payment for organizing/ordering the infusion that was scheduled for the 5th.

Can you clarify dates of service, etc.

Of course, all visits must be medically necessary. You wouldn't schedule an appointment just to fill out paperwork.