Coding and reimbursement mechanisms for physician services in hospice and palliative care.
Many physicians misperceive that the current coding system used to bill third-party payers in the United States does not include codes related to hospice and palliative care. This article will help physicians and hospice and palliative care providers to: 1) understand how to code for physician services related to hospice and palliative care; 2) review the documentation required to support such services; 3) understand the differences between the reimbursement mechanisms to be used when the patient is enrolled in the Medicare Hospice Benefit, and the usual reimbursement mechanisms; and 4) understand some of the approaches for funding non-physician palliative care services for patients not enrolled in the Medicare Hospice Benefit.
von Gunten
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San Diego Hospice, San Diego, California 92103-1407, USA. cvongunt@sdhospice.com
Ferris
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Kirschner
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Emanuel
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