Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Correction

The December 2005 Gastroenterology Coding Alert included a typographical error on page 96 in the -answer- portion of the reader question -Stick With 99218-99220 for 8 or Fewer Hours.-

The article should have read that you should report one unit of 99211-99215 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient ...), not 99218-99220, for Friday (keep in mind that the observation unit is technically an outpatient, not an inpatient, place of service).

You should only report one unit of 99218-99220 per observation stay because these codes are for initial care. For subsequent observation care on a day that doesn't involve a discharge, the outpatient care codes (99211-99215) are appropriate.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Gastroenterology Coding Alert

View All