Which of the following is most accurate for a patient who has not visited the provider in several years?

A patient who has not visited a provider in several years is classified as new. This classification is based on the understanding that an established patient is one who has received professional services from a provider or a provider of the same specialty in the same practice within a specific time frame, typically defined as the past three years. When a patient does not have any visits within this time period, they lose their established status.

In the context of medical billing and coding, distinguishing between established and new patients is significant because it affects how services are billed and reimbursed. New patients require different documentation and may have different financial obligations compared to established patients. This classification emphasizes the importance of consistent patient-provider engagement in maintaining established status.