tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2003 Issue 3

Reader Question: Physician Oversight Required for Critical Care

Question: Is it appropriate to include the time that our PA spends with a patients spouse or children in determining critical care coding? Iowa SubscriberAnswer: It depends on the nature of the conversations the PA has with these family members. Generally speaking, coders may assign critical care codes (99291, Critical care, evaluation and management of the critically ill or critically injured patient; first 30-74 minutes; and +99292 each additional 30 minutes [list separately in addition to code for primary service]) only when the physician is engaged in work that is directly related to the patients care. This time may...

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