Advanced Search

Cardiology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

AMA Status

Published on Fri Sep 01, 2000

Question: We receive a call from the floor nurse saying that our patient is checking out against medical advice (AMA) and our doctor has to return to the hospital and dictate a discharge summary that includes patient AMA. How do I bill this?

Florida Subscriber

Answer: This service should be coded using observation/ inpatient codes 99234-99236, says Terry Fletcher, BS, CPC, CCS-P, a coding and reimbursement specialist in Dana Point, Calif. These codes were created in 1998 to reimburse physicians for admits and discharges that occur on the same calendar date. (HCFA now is proposing to change the calendar date requirement to any 24-hour period.) A formal dictated note for the admit and discharge needs to be part of the medical record, particularly because of the patients AMA status.
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