consult crosswalks

Can you tell me if your physicians are crosswalking the consult codes or is the coder doing it in your office? I have heard that Medicare is not allowing crosswalks and am interested in how other offices are handling getting this done.
I was hoping that the coders could do it so there would be no confusion since the
doctors will not know which payers are following CMS but if it is true that Medicare is not allowing the crosswalk then the Drs will have to learn. Has anyone got any
information on Medicare's rule on this?
Thanks.

consult crosswalks

I've heard of groups that planned to do the crosswalk behind the scenes, but haven't heard if it's successful or not.

I have added a pdf file that compares the level of history ,exam and MDM for each code. You'll see that it's not a perfect crosswalk for established patients and ED visits. You can find it attached to the article called:

UPDATE CMS ELIMINATES PAYMENT FOR CONSULTS 1-1-2010

crosswalks

But is doing the crosswalk behind the scenes allowed by CMS or are they requiring that the Drs do it? Thanks for your help.

crosswalks

There is no specific prohibition about it. Medicare doesn't often tell us how to do something or who has to do it. (Coder versus doctor) They require accuracy and hold the physician accountable for claims submitted under his/her provider number. Staff is also held accountable, particularly for false claims, and can be excluded from Medicare as well, of course.

I think the problem with the idea of a crosswalk is twofold:

The category of code: if it's not a consult, it could be a new or established patient visit in the office, and in the hospital, an ED visit, an outpatient/office visit in OBS, an initial hospital service or if it was 99251 or 99252, either unlisted, of the subsequent hospital visit. Our colleague, signaturedoc, believes in inpatient status, it should always be 99221-99223. If the documentation meets the requirements, I agree.

After category of codes, then you have to select the level of service, and again, they don't walk perfectly for ED and established patient visits.

It's quite complicated and perplexing.