HOW C-L SERVICES CAN COMPLY WITH NEW HCFA GUIDELINES

A psychiatric consultation report form was developed to efficiently an d accurately meet tile stringent Medicare documentation guidelines tha t go into effect July 8, 1998. This form was designed for use in acade mic institutions where the consultation team includes teaching physici ans, psychiatric residents, and medical students. Medicare has strict requirements regarding who may document each element of the cor?sultat ion for billing purposes. These requirements c,Ere taken into account in the design of this form. Two academic consultation-liaison psychiat ric services piloted the form and conducted internal audits to evaluat e its usefulness. The accuracy of billing improved twofold at one site because the form facilitated rapid completion of details requisite to justify CPT codes of complex assessments. This saved considerable tim e and effort over tile previous methods used to determine an appropria te level of billing. Critical information was documented more frequent ly, thereby meeting tile documentation requirements move consistently. Instructions for use, criticisms, and cautions are given. (C) 1998 El sevier Science Inc.