Wiki 99238

[evapaxton]

Does the time have to be documented for 99238? I understand it does for 99239 for over 30 minutes.

 

[jdibble]

According to our MAC, Novitas, time is not required to be documented for 99238, only 99239. It is understood that if the time is not documented, than the visit was less than 30 minutes. If the doctor did not document the time and billed 99239, they would downcode it to 99238 in an audit.

Hope this helps.