Wiki 99217, Discharge or Subsequent Observation?

[dsmith04]

1. Question: When a patient is admitted to EDTU (CPT 99220) a comprehensive history, comprehensive exam, and medical decision making a high complexity, and the next day another physician sees the patient, and the patient has gotten worse and they are now going to admit to the hospital….is this a 99217, discharge from EDTU or is this a subsequent visit (99224-99226)?

 

[jemimah crescentia]

As per my understanding, if a patient had been admitted to the hospital from the observation care, the initial hospital care codes 99221 to 99223 should be used instead of the subsequent observation care(99224-99226).

Hope this helps,
Dr.Jemimah Crescentia, CPC