Use of Emergency Department Services Codes, Critical Care Services Codes and Prolonged Services Codes (Summer 1992)

Why This Topic Matters

The article helps readers understand how these service categories were framed in CPT and why documentation, setting, and service circumstances affected reporting. It is especially relevant for anyone researching historical E/M coding guidance or comparing older CPT language with later updates.

Article Sections

1. Coding Clarification

   Introduces the topic and frames the article as a clarification of related evaluation and management service categories.

2. Emergency Department Services

   Summarizes the emergency department setting and the general features of emergency department E/M reporting in the CPT guidance discussed.

3. Critical Care Services

   Describes the critical care context and the general circumstances associated with reporting those services.

4. Summary of Differences Between Emergency Department Services, Critical Care Services and Prolonged Services

   Presents a comparative discussion of the three service categories and the broad factors used to distinguish them.

5. Prolonged Services

   Covers prolonged services and the general situations described in the article as falling into that category.