A specialist sees a hospitalized patient after another physician requests an opinion, examines the patient, and sends a written report back, and the payer still recognizes consult codes. Which documentation set best supports reporting a consultation rather than shared ongoing care?

When a payer still recognizes consultation codes, the record should show a request for opinion, performance of the consultative evaluation, and communication of findings to the requesting clinician. Mere presence in the hospital or assumption of ongoing attending responsibility points toward hospital care or transfer-of-care coding instead. Shared subsequent visits without those consult elements should not be labeled consultations.