Reader Question:
Neonatologist Code Depends on Infant Location
Published on Mon Apr 02, 2012
Question: We have a "Neonatal Rapid Response Team" (NRRT) in which a respiratory therapist and a neonatologist and specially trained nurses are called at the request of any nurse, or anyone in the delivery area that might believe there would be a problem with a newborn. Sometimes the neonatologist will get there after the delivery. The neonatologist will examine and evaluate the patient as stable and send the baby to the newborn nursery. In this case the pediatrician will charge for the initial hospital newborn 99460. My thoughts are since there wasn't an attendance at delivery or any resuscitation performed, they should bill a subsequent hospital visit 99462. Can you advise? Missouri SubscriberAnswer: According to Gil Martin, MD, who is the neonatologist representative to the CPT editorial advisory panel, if the baby is still in the delivery room or a delivery area, the neonatologist can still use 99464 even if [...]