The Inpatient or Observation Discharge Service is time based. Time for 99239 is required.
99238 – Hospital Inpatient or Observation Discharge Day Management – 30 minutes or less on the date of the encounter
99239 – more than 30 minutes on the date of the encounter
99239 requires more than 30 minutes of time on discharge day.
Time spent on discharge day does not need to be continuous.
Do you want to reduce coding inquiries?
When billing 99239, document time spent of 30 minutes or more on discharge day.
Example: “I spent more than 30 minutes on the date of discharge.”
If time is not documented, 99238 (30 minutes are less) will be billed.
What does the discharge service include?
Total duration of time on the date of the encounter spent by a physician or APP for the final hospital or observation discharge of a patient, even if the time spent by the physician or APP on that date is not continuous.
Code includes, as appropriate:
- Final exam of the patient,
- Discussion of the hospital stay,
- Instructions for continuing care to all relevant caregivers,
- Preparation of discharge records, prescriptions, and referral forms
Codes 99238, 99239 are to be used by the physician or APP who is responsible for the discharge service.
Revenue Cycle Financial Clearance working in conjunction with Coding Education to bring you information to manage the patient experience for all patients at UTMB. We are dedicated to the education and success of all UTMB providers. Please contact The RCO Financial Clearance and Coding Education Team to ask questions or schedule a meeting. We are here to help! Email the Coding Education Team. |