tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2003 Issue 1

Reader Question: Intubation:Always an Emergencyin the ED

Question: If a patient in the ED has a mandible fracture and the physician preformed intubation to protect the airway, can I report 31500? Since the decision to intubate was for airway protection, not "emergency procedure," I'm unsure which code to report. Arizona SubscriberAnswer: You can still report 31500 (Intubation, endotracheal, emergency procedure). All unplanned intubations in the ED qualify as emergent; elective intubations are never done in the ED. An anesthesiologist usually performs an elective intubation, meeting the patient prior to a procedure, usually on a different date of service. You're right to question whether the scenario...

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