CPT® codes 59855 & 59856

Can you help me with the appropriateness of coding CPT® codes 59855 & 59856? These services are performed due to a missed abortion or for termination of pregnancy due to lethal fetal anomaly or because of a very high-risk maternal condition that poses a threat to the mother’s life.

My main question is what does the attending physician have to state that they were present for in order to bill for these codes? As in, they placed the vaginal suppositories and/or that they were present for the vaginal delivery of the fetus and secundines? Does the attending physician have to be present for the vaginal delivery or just confirm that the fetus and secundines did deliver?

Do we bill the attending physician and the date that the vaginal suppositories were placed or the date the attending physician was present for delivery/or confirmed delivery of the fetus and secundines and/or D&C and evacuation?