Final answer:
General Surgeons most often bill outpatient and office visits using CPT codes 99201-99205 for new patients and 99211-99215 for established patients, along with codes for specific procedures. The chosen codes depend on the complexity and duration of the visit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The visit codes most often billed for a General Surgeon are part of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set, which are used to describe medical, surgical, and diagnostic services. For outpatient and office visits, there are several CPT codes that a General Surgeon might commonly use. Some of these include:
- 99201-99205: These are codes for new patient office or other outpatient visits, which are differentiated based on the complexity and time spent on the visit.
- 99211-99215: These codes represent established patient office or other outpatient visits, again varying by complexity and the time involved.
- 99241-99245: These are codes for office or other outpatient consultations for a new or established patient, which are used less frequently due to changes in billing practices that emphasize using the regular office visit codes.
Surgeons also use codes for specific procedures, postoperative visits within the global period (typically not separately billed), and follow-up visits after the global period has ended. Remember, the accurate coding depends on the specific circumstances of the visit, including the duration, complexity, and whether the patient is new or established. Medical coders and billers must adhere to the documentation provided by the surgeon to ensure proper billing and compliance with health insurance requirements.