comâ¢modâ¢iâ¢ty. 1. an article of trade or commerce, esp. a product as distinguished from a service. 2. something of use, advantage, or value. 3. any unprocessed or partially processed good, as a grain, fruit or vegetable, or a precious metal.
Proscribe sounds similar to the word prescribe, but be careful: these words are essentially opposite in meaning. While proscribe means forbid, prescribe is used when a doctor recommends a medicine or remedy. Of course, if you want an excuse for not following your doctorâs orders, you could say you were confused about the meaning of these two words â but that would be lying, which is proscribed by most peopleâs value systems.
Sometimes, however, there is confusion regarding the difference between a consult and a referral. A consultation is a rendering of advice or professional opinion, followed by a report of findings to the referring physician. A referral on the other hand is simply a request to assume care of a patient. In order to bill for a consult, it is essential for that to be supported in the medical record. 1  Besides the key components which are required for coding any visit, there must also be documentation of the four âRsâ: 2  Request â for the consultant to see the patient (in writing). 3  Reason â why consult is requested.