Wiki Failed induction charges

[janellefinnie@sbcglobal.net]

If a patient is brought into the hospital to induce labor, but induction fails and patient is sent home without delivering, can we charge for hospital services? Or is this part of the global charges?
If you have charged for failed induction, what CPT have you successfully used?
She was brought in at 39 weeks for Gestational Hypertension, AMA and single umbilical artery.

 

[jmcockrum]

I'm curious to know the answer to this as well as we have a similar scenario and not sure what we can bill for or where to find that information.

 

[nielynco]

If a patient is brought into the hospital to induce labor, but induction fails and patient is sent home without delivering, can we charge for hospital services? Or is this part of the global charges?
If you have charged for failed induction, what CPT have you successfully used?
She was brought in at 39 weeks for Gestational Hypertension, AMA and single umbilical artery.

CPT published a Knowledge Base question in July 2006: Induction of labor is an inclusive component of the complete obstetric package (eg, 59400 or 59510) or of the delivery (eg, 59409, 59514). No additional code should be reported for induction of labor.

However, this answer does not address a failed procedure. Also, ACOG has indicated that if the MD inserts a cervical dilator the day before the delivery, that service is reportable. You can certainly try to bill for the service if personally performed by the billing MD, but that will not guarantee payment if the payer uses the CPT interpretation..