Wiki ER Coding

[Mperkes72]

I have a pt seen in the ED 9/21/21 10:30 pm and discharge on 9/22/2021 at 1:40 am, just a couple hours later. How is this coded? Thank you

 

[csperoni]

I was always instructed that ED billing for the provider is the date the patient was initially seen. So for your example, 09/21/21.

 

[Mperkes72]

I mean dont you code a discharge as well ?

 

[csperoni]

If the patient was not admitted and only in the ER, you don't bill a discharge. Just your emergency dept E/M 99281-99285, and any other separately billable services you may have provided.
If the patient was admitted to observation status, there would be different codes to use. I would highly doubt pt was admitted to observation if the entire stay was 3 hours.