Forum - Questions & Answers
ER cpt 99285
Is it possible for an ER md to bill a level 5 -99285 and discharge a patient? I am thinking that if a patient condition warrants a level 5 would make them really ill and would not be discharge? Is that possible..
Depends
Sometimes the patient has symptoms that could be life-threatening and require a complete exam--documentation would go to the workup and plan. Once the patient has been worked-up and tests are in, the suspected condition could be ruled out but the work to do so was medically necessary.
But remember
it is the severity of the presenting problem that determines the level of visit. Any good EMR can generate a level 5 visit with a few clicks. So I agree with Nancy that shortness of breath could be a level 5 visit if a CT angio is done, cardiac workup is done and the patient goes home if all is normal, but that is the exception.