Our Behavioral Health practice asked me for a code for counseling & support to a parent of a drowned child in the ED. We are located in a heavy tourist ocean front area. An out of state minor child was pulled from the ocean by EMS and transported to the ED. The patient was from 'out of state' and was swimming with her father. He had been initially taken to the local Police for a statement.
When the father arrived to the ED, he was informed that his daughter did not survive even though CPR was ongoing. The father was extremely distraught and being alone with no family, Behavioral Health Services was called in to support and counsel him for the next 4 hours until other family arrived.
During this time, the father was counseled, supported (both emotionally and physically), assisted father on processing the events which had occurred, accompanied father to daughter's room and encouraged him to spend time with her after pronounced. etc.
Does anyone know if this service is even billable and is so, provide advise on how to code? Would this be Crisis Management? E&M based on time? etc.
Any insight anyone can provide on this would be much appreciated!
Thank you,
Lisa M Poisson CCS-P, CPC, PCA
When the father arrived to the ED, he was informed that his daughter did not survive even though CPR was ongoing. The father was extremely distraught and being alone with no family, Behavioral Health Services was called in to support and counsel him for the next 4 hours until other family arrived.
During this time, the father was counseled, supported (both emotionally and physically), assisted father on processing the events which had occurred, accompanied father to daughter's room and encouraged him to spend time with her after pronounced. etc.
Does anyone know if this service is even billable and is so, provide advise on how to code? Would this be Crisis Management? E&M based on time? etc.
Any insight anyone can provide on this would be much appreciated!
Thank you,
Lisa M Poisson CCS-P, CPC, PCA