Article Overview

This article covers the difference between initiation and ongoing management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and extracorporeal life support (ECLS). It is aimed at coders, billing staff, and clinical documentation teams who need a general understanding of how ECMO/ECLS care is discussed alongside related hospital observation, inpatient, and critical care evaluation and management services. The article also addresses broader considerations around ECMO support types and a scenario involving a change in support status during the course of care.