Wiki 99234, 99235, 99236

[Karen.Foy]

I need help codes 99234, 35, 36.

If a patient comes in on say the 13th and is admitted to the hospital. The admitting physician gives the order to admit. All documentation shows the admitting date as the 13th. The admitting physician comes in the next day on the 14th, sees the patient, and determines the patient can go home. Would you use 99234-36 or the initial admit codes? (99218-20 or 99221-23)

My give on the 99234-36 codes is that these codes have to mirror what the hospital has as the admission date.....

 

[barbreynolds828]

You need to go with the same codes as the hospital.

 

[Karen.Foy]

Is there anything in writing that you can refer me to?

 

[FTessaBartels]

Did the physician see patient on day 1?

Did the physician actually SEE the patient on day 1?

If YES, then go by what the physician order states - was the patient admitted as inpatient or admitted to observation?

If NO ... the physician just agreed to admission over the phone for example ... then you can only code the services on day 2. I would use 99234-99236 (depending on level documented).

Hope that helps.

F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC