riccam1
Contributor
I work for a Pediatric Hospitalist group and we are researching a step down unit. What code would I use and what documentation is required for such a unit? When a newborn is sick but not sick enough for the NICU is when the Step Down Unit would be utilized. If a newborn needs roughly 6 hours of observation/treatment in the Step Down Unit - is there a code for that? 99477 is for initial hospital care PER DAY for the evaluation and management of the neonate, 28 days of age or younger, who requires intensive observation, frequent interventions, and other intensive care services. An example of a 6 hour stay in the step down unit would be if the newborn was transient or has neonatal hypoglycemia. Would I use 99477 for a pt that needs 24 - 48 hours for R/O sepsis or maternal chorioam and neonatal maternal drug exposure?