Billing for patients boarded in ED

[nexus73]

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Does anyone know what codes to use when doing follow up visits with boarded psych patients you’re consulting on in the ED? I know about codes 99281-99285 for initial consults. Are these same codes used for follow up? The confusing part is these are patients who meet criteria for an inpatient bed, and if we had one available I would admit them and just bill the regular admit code 99221-99223 for the initial evaluation. But the boarded patients,while they theoretically will be admitted, depending on how long they’re in he ED, they might improve to the point they can safely discharge directly from he ED. And if they discharge from the ED you’re supposed to use the 99281-99285 codes. Any insight is appreciated.

 

[nexus73]

I typically use 90792 for initial ED consults. If they need admission (at the time I am evaluating them) then I use 99285. If I am going to discharge the boarder, I use 99284.

99284 or 5 for follow up visits after initial consult?

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

Does your institute determine your ED to be inpatient or outpatient. 90792 for initial just like Splik here but we utilize outpatient codes for our ED with 99214 or 99215 obsiously based on complexity

 

[ara96]

How do you guys memorize these codes? I have no idea how to do any billing as a resident as we were never responsible for this.

 

[nexus73]

How do you guys memorize these codes? I have no idea how to do any billing as a resident as we were never responsible for this.

Once youre in practice and billing effects your income you’ll learn quickly. There are about 13-14 different codes I might use across inpatient and outpatient. If you’re doing just inpatient, it’s only 7 codes. So not tough.