Wiki observation vs. outpatient e/m

usmso

Guest
Messages
7
Location
TEMPLE TEXAS CHAPTER
Best answers
0
Please help clarify. If pregnant pt goes to hospital for a labor check or our on-call doctor after speaking to pt on phne asks pt to go to L&D for assessment. Our dr does see pt and monitors somehwhat. What code do you bill?? The E/M codes 99212-99215 or the observation status codes???
 
L&D observation

Pt brought in for observation: Documentation must have a written order " pt placed on observation status" Initiation time must be documented and discharge time must be documented. A plan for observation and performance of periodic reassessments must be documented. A detailed or comprehensive history/ a detailed or comprehensive examination must be documented. A discharge summary must be documented. If you meet the documentation guiidelines you may use the observation codes 90218-99220 and subsequent (if pt stay more than a day) 99224-99226

If your record fall short of observation guidelines, then you MAYmeet the prolonged services , and again time must be documented and reassessment. In this case you would document the E/M done plus the additional time of reassessments. TIME must be documented ( total time spent with patient after the initial assessment, reassessing) and must document what was done.
 
Top