Urology Coding Alert

New typical time assignments will mirror subsequent observation codes. When CPT Codes 2011 debuted the subsequent observation care codes CPT 99224 -CPT 99226 (Subsequent observation care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient ...), many coders were left scratching their heads at the fact that those new codes featured typical times associated with them, even though the initial observation care codes 99218-99220 (Initial observation care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient ...) did not have typical times. Good news: The new edition of your CPT® manual, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2012 will remedy that problem. Get to Know the Time Designations CPT® 2012 adds the following typical time guidelines: 99218 -- ...Physicians typically spend 30 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor or unit 99219 -- ...Physicians typically spend 50 minutes at the bedside and on the patient's hospital floor [...]