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Pediatric Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Hospital Accompaniment

Published on Fri Feb 01, 2002

Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: My pediatrician accompanied a baby to a hospital 35 miles away by helicopter. How should I code for this?

Texas Subscriber
  Answer: Your question is timely because effective January 2002, new physician transport codes exist. These codes, which the AAP and AMA developed, are 99289 (Physician constant attention of the critically ill or injured patient during an interfacility transport; first 30-74 minutes) and +99290 ( each additional 30 minutes [list separately in addition to code for primary service]). Use these codes for face-to-face care from one hospital to another of a critically ill or critically injured patient. If other procedures are performed before or during the transport, report them separately. However, do not bill routine monitoring or initiation of mechanical ventilation separately. If the transport takes less than 30 minutes, do not use 99289 or 99290 use an E/M code.
 
You can also bill for critical care with 99291-99292, if provided.
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