Questions for Dr. Stern
About Your Urgent Care Center
25. My clinic is open to walk-ins during all open hours which are 8-8 m-f and 9-5 on Sat and 1-5 on Sunday. We have lab and x-ray at all times. I think this will justify my using s9088 but I wonder if I charge it will my patients be charged the higher urgent care co pay by their insurance?
Your question is somewhat complex. It sounds as though you may qualify as an urgent care center. If you do code the S9088, then you are clearly stating that your services were rendered in an “urgent care” center. Thus, to be consistent you should collect the “urgent care” co-pay from the patient. Of course, you should already be collecting the urgent care copay, if you have contracted with the payor as an urgent care center. In general, you should code the codes and collect the copays that best describe the services that you have rendered.
