Wiki Discharge Services

[jovan_mrn@yahoo.com]

I am working on some practice reports and the first two were for discharge services. The first was for a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. There were no discharge services reported for this report as the rationale stated it was included globally with the surgery charge. The second report was for a endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the discharge was reported separately. My question is if it is not stated in the code how do you know for sure when the discharge service should be reported separately or when it is to be billed globally with the surgery.

 

[Maureen H]

Discharge services are not billable in the post op period, you would have to bill 99024 (post op follow up visit). Only the admitting physician may bill for discharge services as long as patient is not in post op.