Wiki Prolonged Care

[jnewberry]

Please help me understand codes 99356 and 99357. In CPT it states, "prolonged physician service in the inpatient setting, requiring unit/floor time beyond the usual service; first hour." Thenthe 99357 is for each additional 30 mins. The unit/floor time is what I don't understand.......doesn't this time need to be face to face?

Thanks inadvance to all!

Judy

 

[LindaEV]

Per CPT, for inpatient, no. The CPT description says indirect patient care can be counted (floor time). However, our local MAC says it does have to be face to face.