Follow up from procedure with 0 post op days.

We want to bring patients back in 2 weeks following colonoscopy to check status of complaints and monitor medications etc. perhaps charge a level 2. Anyone see why we cant't do this if properly documented.

re: Follow up from procedure with 0 post op days.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't bill for a follow-up visit on these patients. My understanding of procedures with 0 global days is that they include just the services done on the day of the procedure. When the AMA puts together a CPT® code, say colonoscopy, there is a certain amount of pre-service, intra-service, and post-service work that is taken into consideration. That being said, I would advise against billing a certain E/M level for every patient. I think each case should stand alone, but then that's just my opinion.

If the E/M encounter is documented according to CPT® guidelines (history, exam and medical decision making), then you should be able to bill for the work that was done in that follow-up visit. I'd be interested to see what others think.

Cynthia