Payment for Inpatient Hospital Visits (Codes 99221 - 99239)
This transmittal correctly states longstanding payment policy in Section A that hospital emergency department services are not paid for the same date as critical care services when provided by the same physician to the same patient. When a hospital inpatient evaluation and management service (E/M) was furnished on a calendar date at which time the patient does not require critical care and the patient subsequently requires critical care, both the Critical Care Services (CPT codes 99291 and 99292) and the previous E/M service may be paid on the same date of service.
Issued by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Issue Date: June 27, 2008
DISCLAIMER: The contents of this database lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law (including Medicare Advantage Rate Announcements and Advance Notices) or as specifically incorporated into a contract. The Department may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on the guidance repository, except to establish historical facts.