Must a consulting physician provide a written report to the requesting physician regarding services performed?

A consulting physician is generally required to provide a written report to the requesting physician after offering their services or evaluation. This process ensures clear communication between healthcare providers about the patient's condition, treatment recommendations, and any follow-up actions that may be necessary. The written report serves multiple purposes, such as fostering continuity of care, allowing the requesting physician to better understand the rationale behind the consulting physician's assessment and care recommendations, and ensuring that both parties are aligned regarding the patient's treatment plan.

In many healthcare settings, the provision of this report is considered standard practice, regardless of whether the services rendered were surgical or non-surgical in nature. This requirement is also highlighted in various coding and billing guidelines, which emphasize proper documentation and communication between providers to facilitate comprehensive patient care and to meet the standards of insurance reimbursement.