The only problem with not billing for well visits is that it drops your
rating with the insurance people because you only have x (the small number
of people you can't find anything wrong with) well visits claimed from your
practice for that year. One strategy that works rather well is to have a 2
for 1 policy, where you bill for the first well visit and then schedule
another one about 1 year later (during flu ect. season) and use 477.9
(allergic rhinitis), 381.04 (acute OM), or 461.9 (acute sinusitis
{unspecified})....they're bound to apply to one of them. If not, just let it
go, at least you know the kids healthy.
Sincereley,
Ryan Werstuik
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Sachs <>
To: <>
Date: Sunday, August 24, 1997 8:36 PM
Subject: Re: $ for records copies?
>>Reply-To: (Kenneth R Setter)
>>Really-From: (Kenneth R Setter)
>>
>>> By the way, PCC (not the practice management company I use--at this
time)
>>> has a nice routine which sends a listing of visits and diagnoses
straight
>>> from the billing software.
>>>
>>> * Barry M. Wohl, M.D., F.A.A.P. *
>>>
>>
>>We do have the PCC Partner program and have begun using it for record
>>releases to send a summary of the patient's visits with diagnoses and
>>procedures, major diagnoses, allergies, dates of all immunizations, and
>>their growth chart. All of this but the growth chart can be printed
>>directly and quickly.
>
> One reason I don't do this gets back to the topic of billing "well" visits
>using a vague (but true) diagnoses when a patient's insurance plan doesn't
>cover well care. This has become less of a problem as more plans cover
>well care, but otherwise the computer may show a series of visits for a
>child who has "dermatitis", "coryza", "URI", "feeding problems", "sleep
>problems", "poor weight gain", or "excess weight gain", but has never come
>in for a check-up. If you always use code ICD V20.2 and the appropriate
>preventative care CPT code for well visits then this won't be an issue.
>Does anybody else see this as a problem?
>
>>I know that with storage space being a problem, it's disconcerting to me
>to have a
>>new family transfer to us and instantly have a chart 2 inches thick with
old
>>records, most of which you'll probably never look at again once you've
>>gotten their immunization dates and growth data transcribed.
>
>I actually like getting a full copy of the chart when a patient switches to
>me. Granted, it takes up space and takes time to peruse before (or during)
>the first visit, but will frequently contain information not included in
>the summaries some offices send (last vision, hearing, U/A, Hg, etc.).
>
>Michael Sachs, M.D.
>General Pediatrician
>
>Michael Sachs, M.D.
>General Pediatrician
>