INPATIENT CONSULTATIONS REIMBURSEMENT POLICY Policy Number: ADMINISTRATIVE 228.7 T0 Effective Date: February, 20 Table of Contents APPLICABLE LINES OF BUSINESS/PRODUCTS... APPLICATION... OVERVIEW... REIMBURSEMENT GUIDELINES... RESOURCES/REFERENCES... POLICY HISTORY/REVISION INFORMATION... Page Related Policies: None The services described in Oxford policies are subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the Member's contract or certificate. Unless otherwise stated, Oxford policies do not apply to Medicare Advantage enrollees. Oxford reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify policies as necessary without prior written notice unless otherwise required by Oxford's administrative procedures or applicable state law. The term Oxford includes Oxford Health Plans, LLC and all of its subsidiaries as appropriate for these policies. Certain policies may not be applicable to Self-Funded Members and certain insured products. Refer to the Member's plan of benefits or Certificate of Coverage to determine whether coverage is provided or if there are any exclusions or benefit limitations applicable to any of these policies. If there is a difference between any policy and the Member s plan of benefits or Certificate of Coverage, the plan of benefits or Certificate of Coverage will govern. APPLICABLE LINES OF BUSINESS/PRODUCTS This policy applies to Oxford Commercial plan membership. APPLICATION This policy applies to all network and non-network physicians and other qualified health care professionals, including but not limited to, non-network authorized and percent-of-charge contract physicians and other qualified health care professionals OVERVIEW A consultation is a type of service provided by a physician whose opinion or advice regarding evaluation and/or management of a specific problem is requested by another physician or other appropriate source. The Same Individual Physician or Health Care Professional should submit only one initial inpatient consultation per admission. For the purpose of this policy, the Same Individual Physician or Health Care Professional is the same individual rendering health care services reporting the same Federal Tax Identification number. REIMBURSEMENT GUIDELINES Inpatient Consultation Services The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT ) book describes a consultation as a type of evaluation and management service provided by a physician at the request of another physician Inpatient Consultations: Reimbursement Policy (Effective 02/0/20) 996-20, Oxford Health Plans, LLC
or appropriate source to either recommend care for a specific condition or problem or to determine whether to accept responsibility for ongoing management of the patient's entire care or for the care of a specific condition or problem. Consultations provided to hospital inpatients and residents of nursing facilities may be reported using CPT codes 992-992. Only one inpatient consultation should be reported by a consultant per admission. Oxford will reimburse only one inpatient consultation per facility admission for the same patient when submitted by the Same Physician or Other Health Care Professional with CPT codes 992-992. Follow-Up Consultation Services If subsequent to the completion of a consultation the consultant assumes responsibility for management of a portion or all of the patient s condition(s), the appropriate Evaluation and Management services codes for the site of service should be reported. In the hospital setting following the initial inpatient consultation service, Subsequent Hospital Care codes CPT 9923-99233 should be reported for additional follow-up visits, which include services to complete the initial consultation, monitor progress, revise recommendations, or address a new problem. In the nursing facility setting, following the initial inpatient consultation service, Subsequent Nursing Facility (NF) Care codes, CPT 99307-9930 should be reported for additional follow-up visits, which include services to complete the initial consultation, monitor progress, revise recommendations, or address a new problem. Initial Inpatient Telehealth Consultation Services Physician consultations delivered via telehealth to the emergency department or hospital inpatients and residents of nursing facilities should be reported using HCPCS codes G042- G0427. Only one inpatient consultation should be reported by a consultant per encounter or admission for the same patient. Follow-Up Telehealth Consultation Services In the inpatient setting following the initial inpatient telehealth consultation service, Follow-up Inpatient Telehealth Consultation codes G0406-G0408 should be reported for additional follow-up visits, which include services to complete the initial telehealth consultation, monitor progress, revise recommendations, or address a new problem. Coding The codes listed in this policy are for reference purposes only. Listing of a service or device code in this policy does not imply that the service described by this code is a covered or non-covered health service. Coverage is determined by the Member's plan of benefits or Certificate of Coverage. This list of codes may not be all inclusive. Inpatient Consultation Codes 992 components: A problem focused history; A problem focused examination; and Straightforward medical decision making. Counseling and/or coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals, or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs. Usually, the presenting problem(s) are self-limited or minor. Physicians typically spend 20 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor or unit. Inpatient Consultations: Reimbursement Policy (Effective 02/0/20) 996-20, Oxford Health Plans, LLC 2
9922 9923 9924 992 components: An expanded problem focused history; An expanded problem focused examination; and Straightforward medical decision making. Counseling and/or coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals, or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs. Usually, the presenting problem(s) are of low severity. Physicians typically spend 40 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor or unit. components: A detailed history; A detailed examination; and Medical decision making of low complexity. Counseling and/or coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals, or agencies are provided Usually, the presenting problem(s) are of moderate severity. Physicians typically spend minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor or unit. components: A comprehensive history; A comprehensive examination; and Medical decision making of moderate complexity. Counseling and/or coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals, or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs. Usually, the presenting problem(s) are of moderate to high severity. Physicians typically spend 80 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor or unit. Inpatient consultation for a new or established patient, which requires 3 three key components: A comprehensive history; A comprehensive examination; and Medical decision making of high complexity. Counseling and/or coordination of care with Usually, the presenting problem(s) are of moderate to high severity. Physicians typically spend 0 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor or unit. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Subsequent Hospital Care Codes 9923 99232 which requires at least 2 of these 3 key components: a problem focused interval history; a problem focused examination; medical decision making that is straightforward or of low complexity. Counseling and/or coordination of care with Usually, the patient is stable, recovering or improving. Physicians typically spend minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor or unit. which requires at least 2 of these 3 key components: an expanded problem focused interval history; an expanded problem focused examination; medical decision making of moderate complexity. Counseling and/or coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals, or agencies are provided Usually, the patient is responding inadequately to therapy or has developed a minor complication. Physicians typically spend 2 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor or unit. Inpatient Consultations: Reimbursement Policy (Effective 02/0/20) 996-20, Oxford Health Plans, LLC 3
99233 which requires at least 2 of these 3 key components: a detailed interval history; a detailed examination; medical decision making of high complexity. Counseling and/or coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals, or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs. Usually, the patient is unstable or has developed a significant complication or a significant new problem. Physicians typically spend 3 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor or unit. Subsequent Nursing Facility Care Codes 99307 99308 99309 9930 patient, which requires at least 2 of these 3 key components: a problem-focused interval history; a problem-focused examination; straightforward medical decision making. Counseling and/or coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals, or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs. Usually, the patient is stable, recovering, or improving. Physicians typically spend 0 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's facility floor or unit. patient, which requires at least 2 of these 3 key components: an expanded problemfocused interval history; an expanded problem-focused examination; medical decision making of low complexity. Counseling and/or coordination of care with Usually, the patient is responding inadequately to therapy or has developed a minor complication. Physicians typically spend minutes at the bedside and on the patient's facility floor or unit. patient, which requires at least 2 of these 3 key components: a detailed interval history; a detailed examination; medical decision making of moderate complexity. Counseling and/or coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals, or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs. Usually, the patient has developed a significant complication or a significant new problem. Physicians typically spend 2 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's facility floor or unit. patient, which requires at least 2 of these 3 key components: a comprehensive interval history; a comprehensive examination; medical decision making of high complexity. Counseling and/or coordination of care with other physicians, other qualified health care professionals, or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs. The patient may be unstable or may have developed a significant new problem requiring immediate physician attention. Physicians typically spend 3 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's facility floor or unit. Initial Inpatient Telehealth Consultation Codes HCPCS Code G042 G0426 Telehealth consultation, emergency department or initial inpatient, typically 30 Telehealth consultation, emergency department or initial inpatient, typically 0 Inpatient Consultations: Reimbursement Policy (Effective 02/0/20) 996-20, Oxford Health Plans, LLC 4
G0427 Telehealth consultation, emergency department or initial inpatient, typically 70 Follow-Up Inpatient Telehealth Consultation Codes HCPCS Code G0406 G0407 G0408 Follow-up inpatient consultation, limited, physicians typically spend minutes communicating with the patient via telehealth Follow-up inpatient consultation, intermediate, physicians typically spend 2 Follow-up inpatient consultation, complex, physicians typically spend 3 minutes communicating with the patient via telehealth RESOURCES/REFERENCES The foregoing Oxford policy has been adapted from an existing UnitedHealthcare national policy that was researched, developed and approved by the UnitedHealthcare National Reimbursement Forum. [204R0036A]. American Medical Association. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT ) and associated publications and services. 2. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS Manual System and other CMS publications and services. POLICY HISTORY/REVISION INFORMATION Date 02/0/20 Action/ Updated policy overview language; replaced reference to physicians and other healthcare professionals with physicians and other qualified healthcare professionals Updated policy application language; replaced reference to same physician with same individual physician or health care professional Removed definitions Archived previous policy version ADMINISTRATIVE 228.6 T0 Inpatient Consultations: Reimbursement Policy (Effective 02/0/20) 996-20, Oxford Health Plans, LLC