Part B Coding Coach: Bolster Critical Care Coding With This Primer

Why This Topic Matters

Critical care claims can be difficult to report correctly because they involve specific time concepts, bundled services, and policy differences between CPT and CMS. Understanding the article helps readers determine whether their current billing workflow aligns with the guidance discussed in the 2023 update.

Article Sections

1. Critical care basics and 2023 update

   Introduces the topic and frames the discussion around 2023 Medicare fee schedule guidance and critical care reporting basics.

2. Know critical illness/injury definition

   Reviews the general clinical context used when identifying potential critical care situations and the types of presentations discussed in the article.

3. Remember to include these services in critical care

   Summarizes the types of related services discussed as bundled or separately reported in the article’s overview of critical care billing.

4. Count non-continuous critical care minutes

   Explains the article’s focus on how time is accumulated across multiple encounters and how payer policy differences are described.