Advanced Search

Cardiology Coding Alert

Clip-and-Save Chart:

Apply the 8-Hour Rule With a Glance

Published on Sun Jan 01, 2006

Patient stayed less than 8 hours?  Pick out which code you should report

When you bill an insurer that follows Medicare's "Eight-Hour Rule," you should assign observation care codes (99217, 99218-99234-99236) based on the following time and date criteria:

Keep in mind:  If the patient stay for three or more days, then you should code the first day as observation discharge, and all the days in-between using outpatient established care codes (99211-99215).

Note:  For Medicare's observation care guidelines, see page 2 of www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/B0065.pdf.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Cardiology Coding Alert

View All