Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Question: Our gastroenterologist could not provide a face-to-face discharge for a patient. Can we charge 99238 as he provided instructions on the day prior?

Minnesota Subscriber

Answer: If your gastroenterologist did not perform a face-to-face service on the day of discharge, then you cannot charge 99238 (Hospital discharge day management; 30 minutes or less) or 99239 (Hospital discharge day management; more than 30 minutes).

However, since he saw the patient on the day prior to discharge, you can report it using the subsequent hospital care code that is appropriate (99231-99233, Subsequent hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient ...).

Remember: If the discharge service forms part of the global period following a surgical procedure, then you cannot report it separately as it will become inclusive.