Wiki Admit Date

[littlec1963]

What are the rules regarding billing hospital or observation admit/initial visit codes 99221-99223 and 99218-99220. If the hospital admits the patient on the evening of 8-1 but the Dr. doesn't come in until the morning of 8-2 to do the face to face admit work? I would think it would be billed for 8-2. But the official date the hospital has for the admission is 8-1.

Thank You,
LittleC

 

[teresabug]

I have always billed the consult with the actual date it was done. My experience was w/ general surgery billing. If an internist admitted the pt and requested a general sx consult and my dr did the consult the next day that was the date i billed. The admit date and consult date do not have to match.

 

[littlec1963]

Does anyone know where to find official CMS documentation stating a time limit on the attending physician billing for his initial inpatient visit?
Example- hospital shows patient admitted 7-1 but attending physician does face to face,dictates history and physical and bills initial 99222 on 7-3

Thank You
Littlec