A speech therapist is asked to consult on a stroke patient in the hospital. She spends 45 minutes with the patient assessing and performing an expanded problem-focused history and examination, but that only required straightforward medical decision making. What consultation code should be used for this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

99252is the correct code for an inpatient consultation involving an expanded problem-focused history and examination as well as straightforward medical decision making that required approximately 40 minutes of time at the bedside or on the hospital's unit.
Code 99251 is incorrect because this code is for a problem-focused history and examination involving straightforward medical decision making involving 20 minutes of time. Code 99253 is incorrect because this code is for inpatient consultation that requires 55 minutes of low complexity medical decision making with detailed history and examination. Code 99254 is incorrect because this code is for inpatient consultation with 80 minutes of time spent at the patient's bedside or hospital unit involving moderate-complexity medical decision making and a comprehensive history and examination.

A Speech Therapist Is Asked to Consult on a Stroke