Wiki Can you bill a daily E/M Code if you discharged the patient?

[beavert]

If a provider is the discharging provider and documented a discharge summary but they think they won't get paid for a 99238 or 99239 can they bill a daily e/m code (99469,99478-99480) instead? They were billing these services prior to discharge in the NICU and do not bill discharges. I am trying to find something that states they have to bill a discharge if they are discharging the patient.

 

[thomas7331]

It would be incorrect coding if it is the provider who is discharging the patient.

The instructions are right in the CPT book following codes 99238 & 99239:

These codes are to be utilized to report all services provided to a patient on the date of discharge, if other than the initial date of inpatient status. To report services to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient and discharged on the same date, see codes 99234-99236 for observation or inpatient hospital care including the admission and discharge of the patient on the same date. To report concurrent care services provided by an individual other than the physician or qualified health care professional performing the discharge day management service, use subsequent hospital care codes [99231-99233] on the day of discharge.