E/M Coding for Emergency Surgery

Question:

Under the revised 2023 EM guidelines what E/M code would be supported for seeing a patient in the the ED for a ruptured abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) and taking them emergently to surgery for repair?

Answer:

This scenario would support , 99223, the highest level of Initial hospital care. Based on:

• High Problem-Acute or chronic illness or injury that poses a threat to life or bodily function and,
• High Risk- Emergency surgery

Remember, only 2 of the 3 medical decision-making elements are needed to support a level of E/M.