DOS spans two days

[WilsonK]

I'm coding a procedure that started late on one day, and ended the next morning. The handwritten and dictated reports are dated on the second day. What DOS should I use? I haven't been able to locate any resources (CMS preferably) to back up my decision. Any advice, and references if possible? Thanks!

[FTessaBartels]

When we have such a situation we always use the start date as the DOS.

Hope that helps.

F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC

[twtcpc]

I'm with Tessa, we've always used the date the procedure started as our date of service. The only time that I have done otherwise was in anesthesia, but our billing system required us to enter as two charge lines when the procedure cross the midnight hour.