Wiki Question about code for MD visits on hospital discharge day

[ptoreilly]

I work with some doctors who perform surgeries at multiple hospitals. They do a procedure and the patient is admitted to the hospital. I code for the procedure performed on the first date. I was wondering what is the best code to use for the next day when the MD stops in, checks there wound site, and then states it is OK to be discharged and to follow-up in a week or so.

Do you use a 99024 code for routine postoperative check or do you use a 99238-39 series code for the visit?

 

[FTessaBartels]

Global to surgery

The post op visit(s) in the hospital are considered global to the surgery. You can certainly use the 99024 code for tracking purposes. (Our practice does NOT code any hospital visits postoperatively; we use the 99024 only for the follow-up visits in the office.)

You should NOT use the Subsequent Hospital Visits or Discharge Day Management codes.

Hope that helps.

F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC