tci Part B Insider - 2010 Issue 36

Reader Questions: Count All Relevant Time on Discharge Day

Question: The physician admitted a patient and then discharged the patient five days later. Before discharging the patient from the hospital, the doctor spent more than 30 minutes examining the patient as well as giving instructions for continuing care and medication to her family. Should I bill 99239?Answer: You may report 99239 (Physician discharge management; over 30 minutes) provided documentation indicates the floor time (the time the physician spent preparing and dictating the discharge summary) and what the physician did. E/M guidelines indicate that you should use 99239 "to report the total duration of time spent by a...

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