Advanced Search

Pediatric Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Check for Face-to-Face Before Discharge

Published on Fri Mar 13, 2009

Question: Sometimes our pediatricians tell a new mom she can take her baby home the next day provided the newborn continues to stool and feed normally, and to have normal vital signs. The patient is then discharged from the hospital the next day without the physician seeing the patient. Our hospital compliance plan calls for using CMS guidelines across the board. Should I charge the discharge on the hospital discharge day or on the last day the physician saw the patient? Illinois Subscriber Answer: You should report 99238 (Hospital discharge day management; 30 minutes or less) or 99239 (... more than 30 minutes) on the day that the physician performed the last face-to-face service with the patient. "Discharge day management is a face-to-face E/M service between the attending physician and the patient," according to the Medicare Claims Processing Manual Chapter 12, Section 30.6.9.2 (www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/downloads/clm104c12.pdf). "The E/M discharge day management [...]
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