Designed to amuse and enlighten.
A patient you haven’t seen in over a year underwent a bone density test where an osteoporotic compression fracture was noted. Do you:
A. Submit the code for the pathologic vertebral fracture using an addendum to the test interpretation charge.
B. Invite the patient to come in and discuss.
C. Call the patient to inform her of the diagnosis and submit the code from that call.
D. Do nothing. The code will be submitted by the test interpretation charge and you can discuss the problem at the patient’s next annual wellness visit.
The shocking answer next week.
Last week’s answer:
As you personally contact the patients on your panel who haven’t seen you yet for their yearly visit, you come across one who, though relatively healthy, is particularly resistant to your entreaties. You should:
A. Threaten to kick them off your panel.
B. Offer to do a home visit at no charge.
C. Offer to pay them to come in.
D. Tell them their co-pays are going to go up.
E. Take it like a good sport.
The answer is B, offer to do a home visit at no charge.
It is a violation of Federal law to offer patients financial inducements in pursuit of code collections, negative or positive. Getting >95% of the patients on your panel in for an annual visit every year is the single key metric for your success so you can’t ignore her not coming in.
There is no co-pay for home visits under Medicare Advantage, so this isn’t the same as offering an illegal goodie in exchange for the opportunity to code. It’s a reasonable option for great patient service. It’s a great tactic. Try it.