jifnif
Expert
I have a discharge note, a critical care note and prolonged care on the discharge. Can I accummulate all time (it is documented and charge a discharge with prolonged care? Is this the best way to do this?
Just wanted to clarify that prolonged visit codes are not billable with discharge day management codes. In my case, our internal medicine physician discharged a pt from a skilled nursing facility so billed a 99316 and also 99356 + 99357 prolonged svc codes. I'm not so sure about these prolonged svc codes because the 99316 discharge is already a time-based code. So could you please advise me on this situation and if there is any other alternative options for the physician to get credit for his documented time?You cannot bill prolonged service with discharge day management codes. 99239 covers ALL the time spent if you spend 31 minutes or more.
F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC