Pandemic cut most nursing facility E/M, but 99309 looks strong

Article Overview

This article examines how the COVID-19 public health emergency affected utilization of nursing facility E/M and discharge services, with a particular focus on how code use shifted over time and how CMS policy changes in the 2023 physician fee schedule may influence billing patterns. It is relevant to coders, billers, compliance staff, and revenue cycle professionals working with skilled nursing facilities and post-acute care claims. The discussion also places the trend data in the context of broader Medicare spending and denial-rate patterns for related nursing facility services.