Advanced Search

Pediatric Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Can You Find a Code for Trauma-Team Activation?

Published on Tue Apr 27, 2004

Question: We have a busy inpatient trauma service. Some authorities recommend using a trauma-service activation charge to cover expenses of calling in a team. Are there codes for this? Does anyone pay such charges?

Ohio Subscriber Answer: No specific procedural (CPT) codes exist for trauma-team activation. You should use the usual emergency department E/M codes (99281-99285, Emergency department visit for the evaluation and management of a patient ...) that describe your service.

Two code sets also describe trauma-related services. For instance, you could bill the appropriate surgery code for operating on a trauma patient. And, your facility should use ambulatory procedural codes to charge the facility fee for trauma-team activation.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Pediatric Coding Alert

View All