Question
If Physical Therapy (PT) wanted to refer a patient to Audiology for Vestibular testing and the patient was originally referred to PT by a Primary Care physician for another concern and issue, can the Audiology services be billed to Medicare under the Primary Care physician's name? We are all housed inside same building at a hospital.
Answer
The physician would need to be consulted regarding the medical necessity of a vestibular work-up. There would need to be documentation in the patient's chart for the physician and also documentation in the audiologist's chart and report that the patient was referred by Dr. ________ for a vestibular evaluation with the presenting concerns of ______________________. Then, and only then, could the audiologist bill Medicare under the primary care MD's UPIN (Unique Physician Identification Number).
Robert C. Fifer, Ph.D. is currently the Director of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at the Mailman Center for Child Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine. Dr. Fifer is the President of the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, a member of ASHA's Health Care Economics Committee, and the ASHA representative to the American Medical Association's Health Care Professions Advisory Committee for the Relative Value Utilization Committee in addition to being ASHA's representative to the AMA's Practice Expense Advisory Committee.
Robert C. Fifer, PhD
Director of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology at the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami
Robert C. Fifer, Ph.D. is Director of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology at the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami. Dr. Fifer represents ASHA on the AQC.
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