Description
A new patient is one who has not received any professional services, [e.g., E/M service or other face-to-face service (e.g., surgical procedure)] from the physician or physician group practice (same physician specialty) within the previous 3 years.
Affected Codes
92002, 92004, 99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99324, 99325, 99326, 99327, 99328, 99341, 99342, 99343, 99344, 99345
Applicable Policy References
1. Social Security Act (SSA), Title XVIII- Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)- Exclusions from Coverage and Medicare as a Secondary Payer
2. Social Security Act (SSA), Title XVIII- Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled, Section 1833(e)- Payment of Benefits
3. 42 CFR §405.929- Post-Payment Review
4. 42 CFR §405.930- Failure to Respond to Additional Documentation Request
5. 42 CFR §405.980- Reopening of Initial Determinations, Redeterminations, Reconsiderations, Decisions, and Reviews, (b)- Timeframes and Requirements for Reopening Initial Determinations and Redeterminations Initiated by a Contractor; and (c)- Timeframes and Requirements for Reopening Initial Determinations and Redeterminations Requested by a Party
6. 42 CFR §405.986- Good Cause for Reopening
7. Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12: Physicians/Non-physician Practitioners,
§30.6.1.1 - Initial Preventive Physical Examination [IPPE] and Annual Wellness Visit [AWV]
8. Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12: Physicians/Non-physician Practitioners, §30.6.7.A-Definition of New Patient for Selection of E/M Visit Code
9. Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3- Verifying Potential Errors and Taking Corrective Actions, §§3.1- 3.6.6
10. AMA CPT Codebook