OAR 410-147-0140
Multiple Encounters
(1)
An encounter is defined in OAR 410-147-0120 (Division Encounter and Recognized Practitioners).(2)
The following services may be considered as multiple encounters when two or more service encounters are provided on the same date of service with distinctly different diagnoses (see OAR 410-147-0120 (Division Encounter and Recognized Practitioners) and individual program rules listed below for specific service requirements and limitations):(a)
Medical section (3) of this rule and OAR chapter 410, division 130);(b)
Dental (OAR 410-147-0125, and OAR chapter 410, division 123);(c)
Mental Health — If a client is also seen for a medical office visit and receives a mental health diagnosis, then the client contacts are a single encounter (Refer to the Division of Addictions and Mental Health (AMH) for the appropriate OARs);(d)
Addiction and Alcohol and Chemical Dependency — If a client is also seen for a medical office visit and receives an addiction diagnosis, then the client contacts area single encounter (Refer to AMH’s OARs);(e)
Ophthalmologic services — fitting and dispensing of eyeglasses are included in the encounter when the practitioner performs a vision examination. (OAR chapter 410, division 140);(f)
Maternity Case Management MCM (OAR 410-147-0200 (Maternity Case Management Services));(g)
Physical or occupational therapy (PT/OT) — If this service is also performed on the same date of service as the medical encounter that determined the need for PT/OT (initial referral), then it is considered a single encounter (OAR chapter 410, division 131);(h)
Immunizations — if no other medical office visit occurs on the same date of service; and(i)
Tobacco cessation — if no other medical, dental, mental health or addiction service encounter occurs on the same date of service (refer to OAR 410-130-0190 (Tobacco Cessation)).(3)
Encounters with more than one health professional and multiple encounters with the same health professional that take place on the same day and that share the same or like diagnoses constitute a single encounter, except when one of the following conditions exist:(a)
After the first medical service encounter, the patient suffers a distinctly different illness or injury requiring additional diagnosis or treatment. More than one office visit with a medical professional within a 24-hour period and receiving distinctly different diagnoses may be reported as two encounters. This does not imply that if a client is seen at a single office visit with multiple problems that the provider can bill for multiple encounters;(b)
The patient has two or more encounters as described in section (2) of this rule.(4)
A mental health encounter and an addiction and alcohol and chemical dependency encounter provided to the same client on the same date of service will only count as multiple encounters when provided by two separate health professionals and each encounter has a distinctly different diagnosis.(5)
Similar services, even when provided by two different health care practitioners, are not considered multiple encounters. Situations that would not be considered multiple encounters provided on the same date of service include, but are not limited to:(a)
A well child check and an immunization;(b)
A well child check and fluoride varnish application in a medical setting;(c)
A mental health and addiction encounter with similar diagnoses;(d)
A prenatal visit and a delivery procedure;(e)
A cesarean delivery and surgical assist;(f)
Any time a client receives only a partial service with one provider and partial service from another provider, this would be considered a single encounter.(6)
A clinic may not develop clinic procedures that routinely involve multiple encounters for a single date of service. A recipient may obtain medical, dental or other health services from any provider approved by the Division, and/or contracts with the recipient’s PHP, if the Federally Qualified Health Center or Rural Health Clinic (FQHC/RHC) is not the recipient’s primary care manager.(7)
Clinics may not “unbundle” services that are normally rendered during a single visit for the purpose of generating multiple encounters:(a)
Clinics are prohibited from asking the patient to make repeated or multiple visits to complete what is considered a reasonable and typical office visit, unless it is medically necessary to do so;(b)
Medical necessity must be clearly documented in the patient’s record.
Source:
Rule 410-147-0140 — Multiple Encounters, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=410-147-0140.