Wiki Obs f/u versus OP visit

[heart123]

Can someone please explain to me why i would use 99226 instead of 99215 for obs f/u ? Y'all are awesome

99226 OBS F/U
99215 OutPatient Visit

 

[thomas7331]

Observation codes are only used for patients formally admitted to observation status in a hospital. OBS is a sort of 'holding' status during which the patient is being evaluated to determine if they should be admitted as inpatient, transferred to another facility, or if they're safe to be discharged home. The hospital record should show an order for admission to OBS status with an admit time, after which the OBS E/M codes would be used.

The outpatient codes would be used in situations where the patient is seen at the hospital for services but has not been admitted (for example, a patient being evaluated during for a visit for an infusion or diagnostic testing) .