Advanced Search

Otolaryngology Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Count Readmission as Separate Service

Published on Thu Jan 19, 2006

Question: The ENT discharges a patient from the hospital and readmits the patient to the same hospital on the next day. Should I code for a second admission service for the next-day admit?


Maryland Subscriber
 

Answer: Yes. You should report the admission with 99221-99223 (Initial hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient -).

A discharge service (99238-99239, Hospital discharge day management -) ends any hospital stay, making any subsequent admission on a following date of service appropriate.

Key: The surgeon must provide a complete history and physical on the admission date to qualify for 99221-99223. Choose the appropriate E/M level based on the key components of a history, exam and medical decision-making that the physician performs and documents.
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

Otolaryngology Coding Alert

View All