Same Day Encounters

Encounters with more than one health care professional and multiple encounters with the same health care professional that take place on the same day and at a single location constitute a single visit. More than one visit may be counted on the same day (which may be at a different location) in either of the following situations:

• When a patient, after the first visit, suffers illness or injury that requires another health diagnosis or treatment
• When a patient is seen by a health care professional or CPSP practitioner and also receives dental services on the same day

Clinic visits at which the patient receives services “incident to” physician services (for example, a laboratory or X-ray appointment) do not qualify as reimbursable visits.

Federally Qualified Health Centers/Rural Health Clinics (Provider Type 035) in the counties of  Sacramento and Los Angeles will be able to bill for differential payments for one medical and one dental visit for the same recipient on the same day of service.

SOURCE: CA Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).  Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) Outpatient Services Manual. Mar. 2024. Pg. 6. (Accessed Apr. 2026).