ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Question: When a patient requires oxygen, which CPT^® codes should I use for administering it?

Codify Subscriber

Answer: CPT^® does not contain any oxygen administration codes -- it bundles the oxygen into the day’s E/M service. You should report the appropriate ED visit code that describes the service the physician performs and documents.

Example:  An ED physician performs a detailed history, detailed examination and moderate-complexity medical decision-making before administering oxygen to a patient who is having an anaphylactic reaction to an allergy injection. You should assign 99284 (Emergency department visit for the evaluation and management of a patient, which requires these 3 key components…), as well as any additional procedures and special services.