Level 3 New Patient Office Visit (99203)

Perhaps because it is located “in the middle”, the 99203 is the most frequently used code for new office patients.   Internists use this code for 29% of these encounters. The reimbursement for this visit is about $103.  Usually the presenting problems are of mild to moderate severity.  This code ranks 48th among the most frequently used CPT codes.

The documentation for this encounter requires THREE out of THREE of the following :

1)  Detailed History
2)  Detailed Exam
3)  Low Complexity Medical Decision-Making

Or 30 minutes spent face-to-face with the patient if coding based on time.  The appropriate documentation must be included.

Clinical Example

This topic is covered in more detail in of one of our web-based E/M coding courses.
New Office Patients
		Related Topics
		Level 1 New Office Visits Level 2 New Office Visits Level 4 New Office Visits Level 5 New Office Visits
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