How many years must pass for a patient to be considered a new patient?

In the context of coding and billing, a patient is generally considered "new" if they have not received any professional services from the physician or another physician of the same specialty and practice within the past three years. This definition is important because it influences how healthcare providers bill for their services and impacts the reimbursement process.

Each practice or healthcare setting may have their own guidelines, but the standard rule set forth by major guidelines, such as those from the American Medical Association (AMA), aligns with a three-year timeframe. Understanding this timeframe is essential for ensuring that practices are compliant with coding standards, which in turn affects revenue cycle management and patient care strategies.