tci Part B Insider - 2013 Issue 2

Inpatient Coding: Avoid Writing Off Your Death Pronouncement Services

Discharge codes are appropriate, CMS advises. No physician ever wants to lose a patient. But when death does happen, your doctor will often do a significant amount of work, resulting in a stack of paperwork and documentation. Unfortunately, Medicare has no code for pronouncing a patient dead. But if you’re writing off your doctor’s work, you could be missing out on reimbursement. Although many doctors bristle at using discharge codes 99238 and 99239 for this service, Medicare says it’s the right thing to do. "The physician who personally performs a patient pronouncement of death shall bill...

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