Wiki Observation Initial and Discharge

[JCampbell]

If a patient is admitted to observation one day but is not seen by the provider until the next day and then discharged how would you bill? Would the provider receive credit for initial and discharge on the same day? Would they only receive credit for the discharge?

Thanks for any help that you may be able to provide.

Jennifer

 

[djolly]

It depends on their documentation. Did they document as an admit or a discharge?

 

[kvangoor]

If Obs. admit and discharge done on same day of service by same provider I would use 99234-6. If they were admitted to observation on a previous day by another provider then you would only bill for the observation discharge.