Missed Appointment - CDT Code Guide
Overview
CDT code D9986 is used to document a missed appointment in dental practices. This code helps dental offices track and manage instances where patients fail to show up for their scheduled appointments without prior notice. While not a clinical procedure, it plays a crucial role in practice management by highlighting patient attendance patterns and assisting in administrative planning. Typically, this code is used when a patient does not arrive for their appointment and has not informed the dental office in advance, allowing practices to maintain accurate records and potentially address habitual no-shows.
When to Use This Code
- A patient fails to show up for a scheduled appointment without prior notice.
- An appointment is missed due to a last-minute cancellation by the patient.
- Tracking habitual no-show patients for practice management purposes.
Documentation Requirements
- Document the date and time of the missed appointment.
- Record any communication attempts made to the patient regarding the appointment.
- Note the reason for the missed appointment if provided by the patient.
- Include any follow-up actions taken by the practice, such as rescheduling.
- Ensure the patient's record is updated to reflect the missed appointment.
Billing Considerations
While D9986 is used for tracking purposes, it is important to note that many insurance companies do not reimburse for missed appointments. Practices should establish a clear policy regarding fees for missed appointments and communicate this to patients. Additionally, modifiers are generally not applicable to this code, but practices should verify with specific insurers regarding any unique billing requirements.
Related CDT Codes
Frequently Asked Questions
Most insurance companies do not cover missed appointment fees, so this code is typically used for internal tracking rather than billing.
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