Observation Care Discharge Services (99217) vs Hospital Discharge Services (99238) (Summer 1994)
Summer 1994 pages 27-28
Observation Care Discharge Services (99217) vs Hospital Discharge Services (99238)
In CPT 1993, observation care discharge services or hospital discharge services were both reported using code 99238. In CPT 1994, each of these services has a separate code. The purpose of this article is to discuss the intended use of codes 99217 and 99238. A brief review of the observation services will be presented before the discharge services are discussed.
Traditionally, patients who were seen in the emergency department, were evaluated and admitted to the hospital or sent home from the emergency department after being...
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