Can I bill for two visits on same day?

Asked by: Amanda Veum  |  Last update: September 21, 2025
Score: 5/5 (5 votes)

The general rule of thumb is that there can only be one E/M code per day. Per the CPT manual, "The most common practice is to report a single visit code per day, evaluating all services provided during that day to arrive at the correct level of service.

Can you bill two office visits the same day?

Yes, in some cases, you can bill two E&M (Evaluation and Management) codes for the same patient on the same day, but it depends on payer rules and documentation requirements.

Can you have two doctors' appointments on the same day?

Patients often schedule two medical appointments on the same day with physicians of different specialties. It's convenient for them. It saves travel time. It may mean the patient or a family member only needs to take one day off work.

Can you bill two therapy sessions on the same day?

If you truly conducted an individual therapy session with your client, followed by a separate and distinct family or couples therapy session, then you could bill the two codes on the same day.

What is the modifier for two services on the same day?

Modifiers 51 and 59 are both used when multiple services are performed during a single encounter, but they serve different purposes.

Why Do I Have 2 Separate Statements For 1 Visit? Emory Billing

33 related questions found

What is the same day same service policy?

The Same Day/Same Service policy applies when multiple E/M services are reported by physicians in the same group and specialty on the same date of service. In that case, only one E/M is separately reimbursable, unless the second service is for an unrelated problem and reported with modifier 25.

What is double billing in healthcare?

In a double billing scheme, a provider bills multiple times for the same medical services. Sometimes providers bill the same party (e.g., the government) multiple times for the same services. To avoid detection, they can alter the date of the service, its description, or the name of the patient or provider.

Can you get 90837 and 90847 the same day?

90846 is the code for family psychotherapy, without the patient present, 50 minutes. 90847 is the code for family psychotherapy, with the patient present, 50 minutes. CPT Codes 90832, 90834, 90837 can be reported on the same day as 90846 and 90847.

What is an example of a 77 modifier?

CPT Modifier 77 'Repeat procedure by another physician': A physician may need to indicate that he or she repeated a service performed by another physician on the same day. Example: Patient receives two EKGs on 10/1/15.

What is a duplicate denial in medical billing?

A duplicate denial indicates more than one claim was submitted for the same service, for the same patient, for the same date of service. In most instances, the claim was already processed and paid, or it is an exact duplicate of a previously submitted claim.

When two appointments are at the same time?

What is double booking? Double booking happens when two or more clients are scheduled for the same time slot. This often occurs when availability isn't accurately reflected, calendars aren't synced, or manual scheduling leads to overlapping appointments.

How do same day appointments work?

Same-Day Appointment Meaning? A same-day appointment is a medical appointment that you schedule and is seen on the same day. Same-day appointments are typically available for urgent or unexpected health needs.

What is double booking scheduling in medical office?

Double booking patients is the practice of scheduling two patients for the same appointment time slot. This may sound counterintuitive, but it can improve the efficiency and productivity of a medical practice.

Why is double billing illegal?

Law. In law, double billing refers to charging an hourly rate to two clients for the same time spent working. The American Bar Association prohibits double billing. It is tantamount to overcharging, since the amount of time actually spent working on any one client's work is less than the amount billed to that client.

Can you bill 99396 and 99213 together?

In this case, you may submit codes for both a preventive service (such as 99396) and a regular office visit (such as 99213) by attaching -25 to the office-visit code.

Can you be charged two copays for one visit?

That would depend on your payor. If it is an insurance company that charges copays for preventative care and also E/M visits then you can charage the patient for the two copays. You will be able to tell on your EOB's.

Can you bill two office visits on the same day?

Yes, it's OK to code for multiple E/M services in one visit | American Medical Association.

What is the modifier for two procedures same day?

According to CPT®, when multiple procedures are performed at the same session by the same provider, you may identify the additional procedure(s) or service(s) by appending modifier 51.

What is a 57 modifier used for?

CPT modifier 57 may be used to report the decision for surgery for certain codes. This modifier may be used to indicate that an evaluation and management (E/M) service performed on the same day or the day before a major surgery (090 global days) by the surgeon resulted in the decision to perform the procedure.

Can 90853 be billed twice in one day?

One-Time Billing Per Day: You can only bill CPT 90853 once per day, per patient. This holds even if a client participates in multiple group therapy sessions on the same day. Billing more than once for a single patient can result in claim rejections.

What is the difference between 90837 and 90847?

CPT 90847 denotes “plural” family members [1]. You can think of it as psychotherapy with “all” the family members, plus the patient. With CPT 90837, the therapy is provided to the patient, and/or one (singular) family member.

Can a client see two therapists at the same time?

Seeing multiple therapists at the same time can lead to ethical issues. This is because therapists may have different treatment approaches, potentially causing conflicting guidance. Coordination of care is crucial to avoid mixed messages and ensure that the client receives consistent treatment.

What is the golden rule in medical billing?

The golden rule of healthcare billing and coding departments is, “Do not code it or bill for it if it's not documented in the medical record.” Providers use clinical documentation to justify reimbursements to payers when a conflict with a claim arises.

Can you bill two clients at the same time?

Double billing is not a shortcut to more billable hours, and it contradicts ethical guidelines. While it may be tempting to bill multiple clients for shared legal services, it undermines professional integrity and client trust.

How do you avoid double billing?

If both professionals charge for overlapping time without a clear distinction, it may lead to double billing concerns. To avoid this, firms should ensure clear communication and structured billing practices that track individual contributions accurately.