If you have a new patient that presents to your office and sees the hygienist first and they show signs of periodontal disease and you perform D0180, D0330,and D1110 at the first visit and have the patient come back to see the doctor at the next visit within the next couple of weeks can the doctor then charge D0150 even though the D0180 was just charged.

This would not be appropriate as a D0180 covers similiar aspects as a D0150. Having both of these exams performed within a couple of weeks may raise a concern with the insurance carrier. Having said that as long as the documentation is clear, present and the exams are necessary there is no rule stating you cannot bill a D0180 and then within a couple of weeks bill D0150. It is the opinion of the Association that this type of billing would be inappropriate.