tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2009 Issue 1

Reader Questions: Surgeon Can Admit Patient From the Office

Question: If our surgeon sees a patient in the office and sends that patient immediately to the hospital, can we bill for an admission service? Or, does the H&P have to be dictated at the hospital? Is an established patient office visit the better choice here? Oklahoma Subscriber Answer: You can report an admission code, even thought the surgeon took the history and physical in the office. Because the question refers to a level-five office visit, you would report 99223 (initial hospital care) -- as long as documentation supports that level of admission. Rule of thumb: You should...

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