Internal Medicine Coding Alert
New Medicare Policy on Observation/Inpatient Hospital Care Codes
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Observation Care Codes
Less than eight hours in observation, discharge on the same day:
New national policy: Bill only initial observation care codes 99218-99220, do not bill discharge code.
Old policy: Bill only initial observation care codes 99218-99220, do not bill discharge code.
Various LMRPs: Bill observation/inpatient hospital care codes 99234-99236.
More than eight hours in observation, discharge on the same day:
New national policy: Bill observation/inpatient hospital care codes 99234-99236.
Old policy: Bill initial observation care codes 99218-99220 only, do not bill discharge code.
Various LMRPs: Bill observation/inpatient hospital care codes 99234-99236.
Admission and discharge on different dates:
No change: Bill 99218-99220, and bill 99217 (observation care discharge).
Inpatient Hospital Care Codes
Less than eight hours in hospital, discharge on the same day:
New national policy: Bill 99221-99223, do not bill discharge code.
Old policy: Bill 99221-99223, do not bill discharge code.
Various LMRPs: Bill 99234-99236.
More than eight hours in hospital, discharge on the same day:
New national policy: Bill observation/inpatient hospital care codes 99234-99236.
Old policy: Bill initial hospital care codes 99221-99223 only, do not bill discharge code.
Various LMRPs: Bill observation/inpatient hospital care codes 99234-99236.
Admission and discharge on different dates:
No change: Bill 99221-99223 and 99238-99239.
Internal Medicine Coding Alert
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Observation Care Codes
Less than eight hours in observation, discharge on the same day:
New national [...] - CPT Definitions for Observation and Inpatient Hospital Care Codes
The CPT 2001 definitions for observation and inpatient hospital care codes are as follows:
99217 [...] - News Brief:
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