PEHP No Longer Allows Consultation Codes

I got a letter this week from PEHP, a division of Utah Retirement Systems. PEHP stands for Public Employees Health Program. They state that:

Beginning April 15, 2010, PEHP will no longer reimburse consultation codes. Providers will need to bill the appropriate Evaluation and Management code for the visit.

I’ve probably never had to bill a consultation code, but I imagine ophthalmologists won’t be too happy with this change.

I wonder how long it will be until every insurance company finds out that private pay individuals rarely get billed the higher fee consultation codes…