Pediatric Coding Alert

Question: How should I code subsequent hospital care of normal newborn twins whom an ob-gyn delivered at 37 weeks by cesarean section? Should I bill separately for each child or once for both?

Florida Subscriber

Answer: You should bill for each baby. The pediatrician has to examine and evaluate each newborn individually, so you code individually for each baby.
 
You would report the pediatrician's subsequent hospital care of each newborn with 99433 (Subsequent hospital care, for the evaluation and management of a normal newborn, per day). If the infants have no problems, use ICD-9 code V31.01 (Twin, mate liveborn, born in hospital, delivered by cesarean delivery).