Cardiology

If I have to abandon a pulmonary vein isolation or pacemaker procedure part way through, can I still bill it to Medicare?

12 January 25

I occasionally have patients who come into hospital for a pulmonary vein isolation (item numbers 38290, 38212, 38206, 55118) but at the time of the procedure we find an intracardiac thrombus which means the case has to be abandoned. Is there a way to bill for abandoned pulmonary vein isolations? The same occasionally happens where a patient comes into hospital for a pacemaker implant (item numbers 38356, 38353, 61109) and I find that the veins are blocked or abnormal and not suitable for passing pacemaker wires into the heart. In these cases I have to abandon the procedure and rebook them for another time after further assessment and discussion with the patient. Is there a way to bill for abandoned pacemaker procedures as well?

Do I need a specific referral to admit the patient privately for every episode requiring admission?

27 September 24

No additional context was provided.

If a patient presents at a public hospital outpatient clinic with a named referral from their GP and needs admission but wants to go to a private hospital, is a new referral required?

27 September 24

If I see patients referred to me in the public clinic, and they are unwell and require admission to hospital at presentation to the clinic as patients with chronic disease sometimes are, do I need a separate referral from the referring GP or other senior doctor to admit them to the private hospital?

Can a cardiologist self-refer to follow up a patient post discharge from hospital?

24 February 21

The question posed was: “Cardiologist, Dr Z, performs a procedure (permanent pacemaker implant) at hospital A (provider number 1), but would like to see the patient for ongoing care/follow up at practice B (provider number 2). Can Dr Z self-refer for the follow up visit?”

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Topics

Specialities

Cardiology

If I have to abandon a pulmonary vein isolation or pacemaker procedure part way through, can I still bill it to Medicare?

Do I need a specific referral to admit the patient privately for every episode requiring admission?

If a patient presents at a public hospital outpatient clinic with a named referral from their GP and needs admission but wants to go to a private hospital, is a new referral required?

Can a cardiologist self-refer to follow up a patient post discharge from hospital?

Topics

Specialities

Cardiology

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