Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Mind Descriptors When Choosing Inpatient E/M Levels

Question: Encounter notes indicated that our orthopedist performed a first-day hospital evaluation and management (E/M) service for a patient that included a comprehensive history, comprehensive examination, and low-complexity medical decision making (MDM). I reported 99222 and received a denial. Why? Tennessee Subscriber Answer: You overcoded this one. On resubmission, report 99221 (Initial hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and [...]
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