Which is a re-examination code?

Which is a re-examination code?

• A. 99212
• B. 98940
• C. 97140
• D. 99202

Answer: (A)

The main idea is recognizing a re-examination as an established-patient follow-up focused on reassessing progress and deciding whether the treatment plan should change. The code that best fits this is an established patient visit at a low level of service, 99212, which is commonly used for a re-evaluation when the patient returns to see how things are progressing. Why this fits: re-examinations are E/M encounters for patients already seen before, not initial assessments. They center on reviewing the status, updates since the last visit, and deciding on the next steps, which aligns with a low-level established-patient visit. Why the others don’t fit: the chiropractic manipulation codes (98940 and its related codes) and manual therapy code (97140) are treatment procedures, not re-evaluation visits. The new-patient visit code (99202) is for patients who are new to the practice, not re-evaluations of established patients.

The main idea is recognizing a re-examination as an established-patient follow-up focused on reassessing progress and deciding whether the treatment plan should change. The code that best fits this is an established patient visit at a low level of service, 99212, which is commonly used for a re-evaluation when the patient returns to see how things are progressing.

Why this fits: re-examinations are E/M encounters for patients already seen before, not initial assessments. They center on reviewing the status, updates since the last visit, and deciding on the next steps, which aligns with a low-level established-patient visit.

Why the others don’t fit: the chiropractic manipulation codes (98940 and its related codes) and manual therapy code (97140) are treatment procedures, not re-evaluation visits. The new-patient visit code (99202) is for patients who are new to the practice, not re-evaluations of established patients.