Reader Question:
CPR
Published on Sat Jul 01, 2000
Question: Can we receive reimbursement for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if we do not intubate the patient? How would it be billed, and how many base units and/or time should we charge?
Bob Splichal
Breckenridge, Minn.
Answer: Yes, you may bill CPR without intubation. Bill one unit of code 92950 (cardiopulmonary resuscitation [e.g., in cardiac arrest]). There is no time factor associated with this service. If you provided only emergency intubation, code 31500 (intubation, endotracheal, emergency procedure).
Intubation is not a required component of CPR billing. Usually, many individuals from different departments respond to code blue situations in a hospital setting. Typically, the respiratory therapist or anesthesiologist in a code situation performs the intubation of a patient. The nursing staff is responsible for performing CPR, and the physician directs the code, administers intracardiac medications or defibrillates the patient if appropriate.
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