Wiki Discharge Sumary Documentation Requirement

[Christy Northrop]

Hello, I came across documentation stating a discharge exam is not required to be performed as long as documentation of some type of a face to face encounter has occurred, i.e. physician documented he spoke with patient, etc. I would like confirmation this is correct.
Thank you in advance.

 

[stephanie7480]

Hello, I came across documentation stating a discharge exam is not required to be performed as long as documentation of some type of a face to face encounter has occurred, i.e. physician documented he spoke with patient, etc. I would like confirmation this is correct.
Thank you in advance.

CPT does not state an exam is required. for 99217, 99238-99239.

Although the article referenced below does make a good point in regard to the documentation of time.

While there's no absolute requirement for a discharge exam, you typically should perform one because it helps support the requirement that you have a face-to-face discharge encounter with the patient.

Discharge services, like every other service that Medicare pays for, must include a face-to-face encounter with the patient on the date of service.

Today's Hospitalist Article
http://www.todayshospitalist.com/index.php?b=articles_read&cnt=1280