ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
You Be the Coder:
Find out Whether Moderate Sedation is Billable in ED
Published on Wed Apr 03, 2019
Question: In the emergency room setting, can the ED provider perform an intubation and also bill for moderate sedation (99151-+99157) when properly documented? Codify Subscriber Answer: Intubation can be billed in the emergency department by the ED provider. However, moderate sedation may not be reported in addition to the intubation procedure. The descriptor of code 31500 (Intubation, endotracheal, emergency procedure) in the Medicare database specifically includes the sedation needed to perform the procedure.
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