Q&A. Charging CPR and injections or infusions with critical care
APCs Weekly Monitor, February 20, 2009
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to APCs Weekly Monitor!
Q. Two questions: First, during CPR services, can we charge CPT code 92950 (cardiopulmonary resuscitation [e.g., in cardiac arrest]) in addition to critical care CPT code 99291(critical care, evaluation and management of the critically ill or critically injured patient; first 30-74 minutes)? Second, can we charge for injections/infusions in addition to CPR services?
A. Two great questions: let’s tackle the first. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPT code 92950, is not included in critical care. Therefore you can report it and charge it separately. Refer to your current CPT manual for further descriptions of what critical care includes and what you thus cannot report separately. It’s important to note that in the OPPS 2009 updates, CMS stated that hospital critical care services should follow the instructions in the CPT manual.
Regarding infusions/injections during the CPR event, according to the past and current Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) Manual, the following instruction states that injections and infusions are included in CPR services. Therefore, do not report or charge them separately:
A number of therapeutic and diagnostic cardiovascular procedures (e.g., CPT codes 92950-92998, 93501-93545, 93600-93624, 93640-93652) routinely utilize intravenous or intraarterial vascular access, routinely require electrocardiographic monitoring, and frequently require agents administered by injection or infusion techniques; accordingly, separate codes for routine access, monitoring, injection or infusion services are not to be reported. [Emphasis added.]
Begin to review your critical care encounters and encounters that involve reporting of CPR (92950) to ensure your claims submission and revenue integrity initiatives comply with the CPT and CCI manual instructions.
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to APCs Weekly Monitor!
Related Products
-
Modifier -59 Case Studies: Clarify Common Coding Confusion
Modifier -59 is a perennial problem area for outpatient coders. It shouldn’t be viewed as a way to guarantee payment but...
-
Outpatient Therapy Billing Challenges: Limit the Impact of Reduced Payments
During this 90-minute audio conference, you’ll learn how to adjust your practice to limit financial impact of payment...
-
Outpatient Bed Charge Capture: Billing for Common and Complex Cases
During this 90-minute audio conference, our expert speakers walk you through common and complex cases and explain compliant...
-
Billing No-Cost and Low-Cost Devices: Tips to Avoid the Audit Fast Track
During this 90-minute audio conference, our speakers will use a case study to demonstrate best practices to help you comply...
-
JustCoding Demonstration June 2011: Meet the Coder’s Best Friend
Join us for a FREE demonstration of JustCoding, thw powerful website that's the continuing education destination for coding...
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- HIPAA Q&A: Flu shot requirement for hospital employees
- HealthDataInsights posts new issues for medical necessity claims
- Running an effective peer review committee meeting
- Q&A: Incidental disclosures and patient privacy
- New FAQ posted on storing laryngoscope blades
- Sneak Peek: Effort underway to establish caseload benchmarks
- Tip: Perform your own internal investigation prior to government audit
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- HIPAA 5010 deadline extended, but threat remains, says AMA
- HHS task force: Consider privacy, security with text messages
- E-mailed
-
- Running an effective peer review committee meeting
- HIPAA Q&A: Flu shot requirement for hospital employees
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- HHS task force: Consider privacy, security with text messages
- Tip: Correctly code bilateral pain management procedures
- 2012 CPT code changes for ASCs: Shoulder and knee scopes and pain management
- COT basics to best
- Documentation and coding for toxic metabolic encephalopathy
- Guidance and tact key to compliant, effective physician queries
- Searched