Advanced Search

Practice Management Alert

Reader Question:

Choose E/M Type Based on Admission

Published on Mon Feb 22, 2010

Question: A 57-year-old patient reported to our hospital's emergency department (ED) early in the morning for evaluation of uncontrollable shaking in his extremities and severe pain in his neck. The emergency practitioner (EP) admitted the patient and ordered blood tests and a CT scan, but the shaking got worse. The EP consulted with a neurologist, who recommended the patient be hospitalized. The neurologist admitted the patient to the hospital as an inpatient that evening for more examination. The notes indicate a comprehensive history and exam was performed, along with moderate medical decision making. As the ED physician's biller, should I bill this as an inpatient service? Nebraska Subscriber Answer: No, you should not use an inpatient code,such as 99222 (Initial hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient ...). Although they can recommend hospitalization, ED physicians do not admit patients to hospital inpatient status. In this [...]
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

Practice Management Alert

View All