Billing for Pediatric Patients

Can we bill for a visit with parents when the pediatric patient is not present?

Thanks.

re: Billing for Pediatric Patients

Assuming you are asking about E/M coding if you look at the description on 99212 for example, you can see there are several codes indicating time that is billable when meeting with the patient or family. Time-based codes are used when the physician spends half or more of the visit face-to-face with the patient or family. CPT guidelines state "This includes the time spent performing such tasks as obtaining a history, performing an examination, and counselling the patient.." Time-based codes can be used for visits before, during and after a visit, not for pre- and post-encounter time. per the AMA.