What is CPT Code Consultation?
According to the CPT manual a consultation is a service requested by a physician seeking advice or opinion regarding a specific diagnosis and or problem provided from another physician. A consultation can be requested by other healthcare care professionals such as: nurse practitioners, chiropractors, psychologist, physical therapist, physicians assistants, and other such healthcare professionals. Consultations are specific requests such as help with a diagnosis or treatment plan on a limited basis. Its different from an Evaluation and Management services in that it involves ongoing care and not requesting a particular opinion. A consultation is not a transfer of care, it’s simply requesting advice or opinion from a physician specialist with more knowledge with the diagnosis. You can not use a consultation code if a physician treats a patient in a hospital and suggest to the patient to seek further care with another physician; this is not a consultation, it’s simply a transfer of care o
