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ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Reader Question:

Not all critical care time must be face to face

Published on Sun Oct 14, 2012

Question: Our ED physician received a call from a rural hospital looking to transfer a patient with STEMI to our facility to be admitted to the cath lab. The physician spent 18 minutes in anticipation of the patient's arrival, arranging activation of cath lab and consulting with other providers. The patient arrives and is provided with critical care services and is admitted to the cath lab after 19 minutes. The doctor would like to bill 37 minutes of critical care.I am conflicted as to whether to bill critical care. On the one hand, the doctor spent significant time emergently coordinating care for this patient. On the other, the patient was only physically present for 19 minutes. Does anyone one have any advice / experience with this type situation? Maine SubscriberAnswer: CPT® is clear that the physician does not need to be at the bedside for every minute of critical care [...]
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