Billing > Charge Master > How to Add an Encounter

Adding an Encounter for a case which has no previous encounters

If the case has no previous encounters, you have to create a new Encounter from the Encounter area.

1. Click the Add Encounter button in the Encounter area, the Encounter Information window will be displayed as shown below.

cm_encounter_information

All the items in the window marked with the asterisk (Û) are required fields. If any box with an asterisk is left blank, you will get an error message when you click the Save button.

2. Enter the following information in this window.

Acct. Date

Enter the accounting date.

Date of Service

Click on the calendar icon and select the date of the Encounter.

Time of Service

Choose the correct time of the encounter from the boxes provided.

Diagnosis

This is where the details of the diagnosis of the Patient is entered. You can enter up to four diagnosis for an encounter.

1. Click on the search button to open the Diagnosis Search window.

2. If you know the diagnosis code, enter it in the Diagnosis Code box and click the Search button.

Enter the description of the diagnosis in the Diagnosis Description box and click the search button.

3. A list of the diagnosis will be displayed. Select the correct diagnosis from the list. The selected diagnosis will be displayed in the list.

Medicaid Resub. Code

Select the correct option from this field to adjust or void a previously paid claim, otherwise leave it as it is.

Medicaid orig. ref. code

Enter the Medicaid original reference code.

Add New CPT Code

To add new CPT codes for this encounter, click on the add button, the Encounter Procedure window will appear.

If you know the CPT Code, enter it in the CPT Code box and click the Add button.

Else, you can search for a CPT Code in any of the two ways mentioned below.

•	Enter a part of the CPT code in the CPT Code box and click the Search button.

•	Enter the description of the CPT code in the Description box and click the Search button

The list of the CPT codes for the given search criteria wild be displayed. Select the required codes and click the Add button.

3. Click on the different tabs and enter the relevant information.

Main:

a) Enter details of Place of Service, Service Location, Rendering Provider, Referring Provider.

b) Enter the Admission date from and To.

c) Enter the Authorization number if applicable.

d) Enter the Co-pay amount, the Co-pay balance (if any) will be displayed in the Co-pay Balance box.

e) Enter the Deductible amount if applicable, the Deductible balance (if any) will be displayed in the Deductible balance box.

Condition:

Under this tab details of the condition of the patient like Date Patient Unable to work from, Onset of Current Illness, Date of Pregnancy, Last X-ray date etc if required can be entered.

charge_entry_condition_tab

Accident:

Accident related details if required can be entered under this tab.

charge_entry_accident_tab

Lab:

Lab related details like CLIA #, Lab Charges etc can be entered here if required.

charge_entry_lab_tab

Others:

Details of Supervising Provider, Ordering Provider, PCP, Service Auth. Exc. Code etc can be entered under this tab if required.

cm_encounter_others_tab

The Service Authorization Exception Code is required when Providers are required by law (e.g. New York State Medicaid) to obtain authorization for specific services, but for the reasons listed in REF02, performed the service without obtaining the authorization. Check with your State Medicaid to see if this applies to your state.

4. Click the Save button. The encounter will be saved and displayed in the Encounter Area. The Encounter Lines for this encounter will also be displayed.

Editing an Encounter

You can edit the details of an Encounter using the following buttons provided in the Encounter area

	This is the Add Encounter button, clicking this button will open the Add Encounter window where you can enter details of any new encounters.
	This is the Edit Encounter button, clicking this button will take you to the Edit Case window where you can edit the required details of the Case
	This is the Add Activity button, clicking this button will open the Add Activity window where you can add any activity notes. For eg. details of any changes that have been made using the Edit Encounter button etc.
	This is the View Activity button, clicking this button will open the View Activity window which will display the details of all the entered activities.