patient admitted directly from physician's office, report inital hospital care cpt/hcpcs

by Cecilia Eichmann 8 min read

Billing Initial Hospital Care and Discharge – multiple e

34 hours ago For additional information regarding inpatient neonatal and pediatric critical care codes, CPT 99468-99480, reported by multiple physicians in the same group, see the policy titled Pediatric and Neonatal Critical and Intensive Care Services. When the patient is admitted to inpatient hospital care for less than 8 hours on the same date, then ... >> Go To The Portal


When the patient is admitted to inpatient hospital care for less than 8 hours on the same date, then Initial Hospital Care, from CPT code range 99221 – 99223, shall be reported by the physician. The Hospital Discharge Day Management service, CPT codes 99238 or 99239, shall not be reported for this scenario.

If patient is directly admitted to the Hospital from Office only an Office visit should be reported but an Initial Inpatient Hospital visit (CPT 99221-99223) can also be reported on the day on which physician first sees the patient in the Hospital.

Full Answer

What is the CPT code for initial hospital care?

When the patient is admitted to inpatient hospital care for less than 8 hours on the same date, then Initial Hospital Care, from CPT code range 99221 – 99223, shall be reported by the physician. The Hospital Discharge Day Management service, CPT codes 99238 or 99239, shall not be reported for this scenario.

What is the CPT code for inpatient consultation?

For Medicare patients, inpatient consultations are reported with the initial hospital visit codes (99221–99223). Do not append modifier AI, which is only used by the admitting physician.

When can a patient be admitted to a hospital as inpatients?

As per CR 6626, CMS IOM Publication 100-04, the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 1, Section 50.3.1: “Patients are admitted to the hospital as inpatients only on the recommendation of a physician or licensed practitioner permitted by the State to admit patients to a hospital."

Can a patient be seen in the office and admitted to hospital?

1 Q: If a patient is seen in the office at 3:00 p.m. and admitted to the hospital at 1:00 a.m. the next day, may both the office visit and the initial hospital care be reported? A: Yes. Because different dates are involved, both codes may be reported. The CPT states services on the same date must be rolled up into the initial hospital care code.

What is the CPT code for outpatient observation?

Why is coding for surgical services so complicated?

What is the most important factor for correct coding?

How many visits per specialty can be paid per stay?

What is the definition of a hospital admission?

Is a patient admitted to the ED?

See more

About this website

What is the CPT code 99223?

CPT 99223 is defined as: Initial hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient, which requires these three key components: A comprehensive history. A comprehensive exam. Medical decision making of high complexity.

What is the difference between 99238 and 99239?

The only difference between a 99238 and a 99239 is that a 99239 is greater than 30 minutes spent on discharge and a 99238 is thirty minutes or less spent on discharge. Please reference the AMA's CPT 2018 Standard Edition as the definitive authority in CPT® coding, available below and to the right from Amazon.

What is the Hcpcs code 99221?

Initial Hospital Visit Codes CPT code 99221 (30 minutes) Describes the first inpatient encounter with the patient. Detailed or comprehensive history and exam. Straightforward or low-level medical decision-making.

What is the CPT code 99233?

What is CPT Code 99233? CPT code 99233 is assigned to a level 3 hospital subsequent care (follow up) note. 99233 is the highest level of non-critical care daily progress note. When it comes to 99233 documentation is critical, however understanding of the documentation required is even more critical.

What does CPT code 99239 mean?

Hospital Discharge Day Management ServiceThe Hospital Discharge Day Management Service (CPT code 99238 or 99239) is a face-to-face evaluation and management (E/M) service with the patient and his/her attending physician.

Is CPT 99239 inpatient or outpatient?

CPT codes 99234-99236, observation or inpatient care, are used when the patient is placed in observation status or admitted to inpatient status and then discharged on the same date. All services provided on the day of discharge from inpatient status are coded 99238 or 99239.

What is the difference between 99223 and 99233?

If a doctor is asked to come in and "consult" and it fits the rules for billing a true consult, then yes you would bill a 99221-99223. However, if the doctor is "consulting" on a problem they will be managing or currently manage then you should bill a 99231-99233.

What is the difference between 99221 and 99222?

The key difference between medical CPT code 99221 and 99222 is severity. In CPT code 99221, the severity of hospitalisation is comparably low, while the severity of medical hospitalisation in CPT code 99222 is fairly high.

What is the CPT code 99211?

CPT® code 99211 is defined by the 2011 CPT Standard Edition manual as: "Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient that may not require the presence of a physician.

What is the difference between 99232 and 99233?

Code 99232 identifies patients with minor complications requiring active, continuous management, or patients who aren't responding to treatment adequately. Code 99233 identifies unstable patients, or patients with significant new complications or problems.

What does CPT code 99232 means?

CPT code 99232 usually requires documentation to support that the patient is responding inadequately to therapy or has developed a minor complication. Such minor complication might call for careful monitoring of comorbid conditions requiring continuous, active management.

What does CPT code 93306 mean?

Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 93306, is a noninvasive study that uses ultrasound to visualize the heart's function, blood flow, valves, and chambers.

2021 Consultation Codes Update | CPT codes 99241-99245, 99251-

News from the AMA: The May 2022 CPT Assistant announced there are changes coming to E/M codes in 2023, including consultations. The AMA plans to post these changes on their website in July, 2022.

CPT code 99251, 99252 , 99253, 99254, 99255 | Medical Billing and ...

CPT 97151, 97152, 97153, 97158, 0373T – Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Coding and Billing Guidelines for Emergency Department

ED E/M CPT Codes – Facility Charges: Code: Complexity: Typical Presenting Problem: Facility Intervention Example: 99281. Straightforward. The presented problem(s) are typically self-limited or minor conditions with no medications or home treatment required.. Example: Signs and symptoms of wound infection explained, return to ED if problems develop. ...

CPT 99217, 99218, 99219, 99220 – Observation care codes

CPT Code Description. 99217 Observation care discharge day management (This code is to be utilized to report all services provided to a patient on discharge from outpatient hospital “observation status” if the discharge is on other than the initial date of “observation status.” To report services to a patient designated as “observation status” or “inpatient status” and ...

My physician asked to consult in ER - AAPC

I'm a chart auditor for a large urology group and there is some dispute on our providers providing a consult in the ER. Patient is Medicare and we are NOT admitting the patient to our service. I was told that we should be using 99201-99205 or 99212-99215 as the patient is "out patient" and we...

How hospitalists can bill for consults and admissions

Published in the October 2010 issue of Today’s Hospitalist. MEDICARE’S DECISION to eliminate consultation codes beginning this year has left readers with many questions on how to bill for consults and admissions. In addition, the discussion about observation status in my July column (“Making sure your patients stay admitted“) has led to further questions.

What is the Medicare code for a physician of record?

Contractors consider only one M.D. or D.O. to be the principal physician of record (sometimes referred to as the admitting physician.) The principal physician of record is identified in Medicare as the physician who oversees the patient’s care from other physicians who may be furnishing specialty care. Only the principal physician of record shall append modifier “-AI” (Principal Physician of Record) in addition to the E/M code. Follow-up visits in the facility setting shall be billed as subsequent hospital care visits and subsequent nursing facility care visits.

Who is the principal physician of record?

Contractors consider only one M.D. or D.O. to be the principal physician of record (sometimes referred to as the admitting physician.) The principal physician of record is identified in Medicare as the physician who oversees the patient’s care from other physicians who may be furnishing specialty care.

General Information

CPT codes, descriptions and other data only are copyright 2020 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/HHSARS apply.

CMS National Coverage Policy

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, Section 1833 (e) states that no payment shall be made to any provider of services or other person under this part unless there has been furnished such information as may be necessary in order to determine the amounts due such provider or other person under this part for the period with respect to which the amounts are being paid or for any prior period..

Article Guidance

Medicare rules and regulations regarding acute care inpatient, observation and treatment room services are outlined in the Medicare Internet-Only Manuals (IOMs).

ICD-10-CM Codes that Support Medical Necessity

It is the provider’s responsibility to select codes carried out to the highest level of specificity and selected from the ICD-10-CM code book appropriate to the year in which the service is rendered for the claim (s) submitted.

Bill Type Codes

Contractors may specify Bill Types to help providers identify those Bill Types typically used to report this service. Absence of a Bill Type does not guarantee that the article does not apply to that Bill Type.

Revenue Codes

Contractors may specify Revenue Codes to help providers identify those Revenue Codes typically used to report this service. In most instances Revenue Codes are purely advisory. Unless specified in the article, services reported under other Revenue Codes are equally subject to this coverage determination.

What is the CPT code for outpatient observation?

If the patient is admitted for observation, codes 99218–99220 are reported. For patients receiving hospital outpatient observation services who are then admitted to the hospital as inpatients and who are discharged on the same date, the physician should report CPT codes 99234–99236.

Why is coding for surgical services so complicated?

Coding for surgical services can be complicated because it involves numerous rules, guidelines, and exceptions that frequently change. An area of exceptional difficulty is the correct use of codes for evaluation and management (E/M) of patients who require hospitalization. Coding for E/M services has become even more complex due to ...

What is the most important factor for correct coding?

An important factor for correct coding is to report the service based on the location/status at the time of admission and if the payor is Medicare or follows Medicare rules related to consultation services.

How many visits per specialty can be paid per stay?

However, only one initial visit per specialty can be paid per stay. Follow-up visits in the facility setting may continue to be billed as subsequent hospital care visits (99231–99233). The coding depends on the admission status of the patient when seen and whether the patient is classified as Medicare or non-Medicare.

What is the definition of a hospital admission?

The severity of illness and appropriate documentation of elements of the history and physical to determine the level of service. The hospital admission status of the patient, such as inpatient, observation, emergency, or outpatient. The disposition of the patient after the evaluation. Whether the patient is covered by Medicare.

Is a patient admitted to the ED?

ED consultation: Patient is not admitted. A patient presents to the ED; general surgery is consulted, but the patient is not admitted to the hospital. If the patient is a Medicare beneficiary, the general surgeon should bill the level of ED code (99281–99285).

Can you bill E&M for same physician?

Since you can bill only one E&M visit per day for the same physician, the RVUs are higher for the admission, so from a fiscal perspective, that's what most providers do. Since your H&P meets a 99223, you can bill that; however, you could combine the documentation from both visits to arrive at your initial hospital visit code.

Do E/M providers pay for the same doctor?

They do not pay for both E/M services. Also, they do not pay for an emergency department visit by the same physician on the same date of service. When the patient is admitted to the hospital via another site of service (e.g., hospital emergency department, physician's office, nursing facility), all services provided by the physician in conjunction ...

What is the CPT code for a hospital?

Physicians must meet all the requirements of the initial hospital care codes, including “a detailed or comprehensive history” and “a detailed or comprehensive examination” to report CPT code 99221, which are greater than the requirements for consultation codes 99251 and 99252. Physicians may report a subsequent hospital care code for services ...

What is the E&M code for admission and discharge?

Admission and Discharge Same Day – E&M codes (99234 – 99236) used to report services for a patient who is admitted and discharged from an observation or inpatient stay on the same calendar date. Patient’s stay must be a minimum of eight hours in order to bill these codes.

What is the code for discharge day management?

The Hospital Discharge Day Management services (99238 or 99239) are not to be reported. When a patient has been admitted to inpatient hospital care for a minimum of 8 hours ...

What is the phone number for the USC?

Questions regarding policies, procedures or interpretations should be directed to the USC Office of Culture, Ethics and Compliance at (323) 442-8588 or USC Help & Reporting Line at (213) 740-2500 or (800) 348-7454.

What is the CPT code for outpatient observation?

If the patient is admitted for observation, codes 99218–99220 are reported. For patients receiving hospital outpatient observation services who are then admitted to the hospital as inpatients and who are discharged on the same date, the physician should report CPT codes 99234–99236.

Why is coding for surgical services so complicated?

Coding for surgical services can be complicated because it involves numerous rules, guidelines, and exceptions that frequently change. An area of exceptional difficulty is the correct use of codes for evaluation and management (E/M) of patients who require hospitalization. Coding for E/M services has become even more complex due to ...

What is the most important factor for correct coding?

An important factor for correct coding is to report the service based on the location/status at the time of admission and if the payor is Medicare or follows Medicare rules related to consultation services.

How many visits per specialty can be paid per stay?

However, only one initial visit per specialty can be paid per stay. Follow-up visits in the facility setting may continue to be billed as subsequent hospital care visits (99231–99233). The coding depends on the admission status of the patient when seen and whether the patient is classified as Medicare or non-Medicare.

What is the definition of a hospital admission?

The severity of illness and appropriate documentation of elements of the history and physical to determine the level of service. The hospital admission status of the patient, such as inpatient, observation, emergency, or outpatient. The disposition of the patient after the evaluation. Whether the patient is covered by Medicare.

Is a patient admitted to the ED?

ED consultation: Patient is not admitted. A patient presents to the ED; general surgery is consulted, but the patient is not admitted to the hospital. If the patient is a Medicare beneficiary, the general surgeon should bill the level of ED code (99281–99285).