Billing Basics- Billing for Critical Care - ICU Bootcamp

1 SCCM > Communications > Critical Connections > Archives > Billing Basics: Billing for Critical CareBilling Basics: Billing for Critical CareInformation and examples are presented to simplify the complex process of Critical care Billing , an essential component of caring for the critically ill 2 April Patient and Family Centered CareDavid L. Carpenter, MPAS, PA C This installment of Coding Corner clarifies information published in the April/May 2014 issue of Critical Connections. It clarifies information related to:1) diagnosis/condition and E/M or CC code assignments 2) appropriate CPT codes and 3) split/shared visits as well as combining physician andphysician assistant Critical care time.

2 Critical care Billing is an essential component of caring for the critically ill and injured. However, given the complexity of the process and guidelinesthat govern appropriate Billing , it is often not fully understood. The following information, examples and answers to frequently asked questions aredesigned to simplify this process for all are three criteria for determining if Critical care (as opposed to evaluation and management [E/M]) codes are appropriate(1): The patient must be critically ill. This is defined as Critical illness or injury that acutely impairs one or more vital organ systems such that there is ahigh probability of imminent or life threatening deterioration in the patient s condition.

3 The provider must treat the Critical illness using high complexity decision making to assess, manipulate, and support vital systems to treat single ormultiple vital organ system failure and/or prevent further life threatening deterioration of the patient s condition. The care requires the personalattention of the provider. care must be provided at the bedside or on the floor/unit where the patient is housed. Time (outlined below)The clinician also must spend at least 30 minutes providing Critical care . Once the requirements for Critical care management and the time spentengaged in care are met, any additional care time is then divided into blocks. Time spent may be either continuous or intermittent and thenaggregated, and is measured from midnight to midnight each day.

4 The following two codes define Critical care time: 99291 first 74 minutes of Critical care on a given day 99292 each additional 30 minutes of Critical careThus, time is correctly allocated as follows:Less than 30 minutes Appropriate E/M code30 74 minutes 99291 x 175 104 minutes 99291 x 1 and 99292 x 1105 134 minutes 99291 x 1 and 99292 x 2135 164 minutes 99291 x 1 and 99292 x 3165 minutes or longer 99291 and additional 99292 as appropriateIt is important to note that the documentation must match the complexity of medical decision making as well as the time spent in Critical care exclusiveof time spent during invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as intubation, bronchoscopy, cardioversion, tube thoracostomy, or centralvenous catheter , certain procedures are bundled into Critical care Billing and cannot be billed separately, including.

5 Interpretation of cardiac output measurements (CPT 93561, 93562) Chest radiographs, professional component (CPT 71010, 71015, 71020) Blood draw for specimen (CPT 36415) Blood gases and information data stored in computers ( , electrocardiogram, blood pressure, hematologic data) [CPT 99090] Gastric intubation (CPT 43752) Pulse oximetry (CPT 94760, 94761, 94762) Temporary transcutaneous pacing (CPT 92953) Ventilator management (CPT 94002 94004, 94660, 94662) Vascular access procedures (CPT 36000, 36410, 36415, 36591, 36600) Critical care Billing may be a challenging process. A useful approach starts by determining if the care meets the requirements for Critical care ,selecting the appropriate Critical care codes, and determining the amount of time spent in management and any time spent devoted to documentation of these steps will help simplify the process and improve reimbursement.

6 Critical care Billing Case Study Physician Jones admits a patient with septic shock to the ICU. Her initial treatment involves intubation and placement of a central line and arterial patient receives mechanical ventilation, volume resuscitation and antibiotics a norepinephrine infusion is initiated and titrated for mean arterialpressure management. Ventilator titration is performed, as well as electrocardiography, arterial blood gas measurement, central venous oxygensaturation determination, and chest radiography interpretation. Finally, time is spent documenting time spent in Critical care management as well asICU admission . The total time spent was 119 minutes with 45 minutes devoted to Assistant Smith is covering the ICU that evening.

7 The patient develops acute respiratory distress syndrome and is managed with low tidalvolume ventilation. The patient also develops acute kidney injury, requiring placement of a temporary dialysis catheter, and she is managed usingcontinuous hemodialysis. The total Critical care management time spent was 90 minutes, including 30 minutes of procedural time. How would thecritical care time be most appropriately billed?Physician Jones: Critical care time, 74 minutes 99291 Arterial line 36620: arterial catheterization or cannulation for sampling, monitoring or transfusion (separate procedure) percutaneous Central line 36556: non tunneled central venous catheter > 5 years of ageIntubation 31500: endotracheal intubation, emergencyPhysician Assistant Smith: Critical care time, 60 minutes 99292 x 2 Temporary dialysis catheter placement 36556: non tunneled central venous catheter >5 years of age.

8 Append modifier 59 to second central linecode to avoid risk of denial by the payer as a duplicate code. Common Questions Can nonphysician providers (NPP) [ , physician assistants and nurse practitioners] billfor Critical care services?According to Medicare guidelines, NPPs can provide Critical care services under the following conditions: 2001 2015 Society of Critical care Medicine. All rights Us | Privacy Statement | Terms and Conditions | FeedbackHeadquarters | 500 Midway Drive, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 USAP hone: +1 847 827 6869 | Fax: +1 847 827 6886 | Email: The services provided must be within the scope of practice and licensure requirements for the state in which the NPP provides the services.

9 For physician assistants, general physician supervision requirements must be these conditions met, NPPs can bill using codes 99291 or 99292 under their provider multiple providers combine time spent in the care of a patient? In general, provider time may be combined with the following stipulations: Only one provider may bill at one time. Providers must be in the same practice and specialty. PAs / NPs can combine times. When physicians and NPPs bill for Critical care on the same patient, the time should be billed according to insurance payer guidance. Most payers doallow for the combination of physician and NPP time when Billing for Critical care . Can Critical care time be billed outside the ICU?

10 (2) Critical care is based on patient condition, not patient location. care provided outside of the ICU can be billed as Critical care if the Critical carerequirements are met. Conversely, the presence of the patient in the ICU because of hospital policies or lack of floor beds does not make the patientcritically here for additional :1. Medicare Claims Processing Manual. Chapter 12: Physicians/nonphysician practitioners. and guidance/Guidance/Manuals/ Accessed March 31, Sample GA, Dorman T. Coding and Billing for Critical care : A Practice 5th ed. Mount Prospect, IL: Society of Critical care Medicine Notes There is considerable confusion when combining NPP and physician time for Critical care .