Neurosurgery Coding Alert

No need to fret over applying proper codes with this guidance.Take a quick refresher on two E/M service items that could cause claim delays if you're not up to speed on how to factor in your neurosurgeon's time spent on inpatient discharges and how to report phone use.1. 99239: Count All Relevant Time on Discharge DayQuestion: The physician admitted a patient and then discharged the patient five days later. Before discharging the patient from the hospital, the physician spent more than 30 minutes examining the patient as well as giving instructions for continuing care and medication to her family. Should I bill 99239?Answer: You may report 99239 (Hospital discharge day management; more than 30 minutes) provided your physician's documentation indicates the floor time (the time the physician spent preparing and dictating the discharge summary) and what the physician did.E/M guidelines indicate that you should use 99239 "to report the total [...]