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Special Service Code (99053) FAQ

Service(s) provided between 10:00pm and 8:00am at a 24-hour facility, in addition to basic service.

Is CPT code 99053 an Evaluation and Management (E/M) code?

No, CPT 99053 is not an E/M code. It is a Special Services, Procedures and Reports code listed in the Medicine Section of CPT. Special Services, Procedures and Reports codes provide the reporting physician with a means for identifying the completion of a service that is an adjunct to the basic services rendered. These adjunctive codes can be reported with any E/M or other CPT basic service satisfying the stated requirements. It is in addition to another service CPT code such as but not limited to 99281-99285.

Is it appropriate to use the CPT 99053 code for care provided in an ED and will it be reimbursed?

It is appropriate to apply this code and bill for this service. The reference to a "24-hour facility" in the CPT description of this code clearly delineates the appropriateness of its use in the ED, which is further clarified by a clinical example of appropriate reporting published in the August 2006 CPT Assistant (i.e., "A patient arrives at the emergency department of a 24-hour facility at 4:00 AM and is treated by the physician for severe abdominal pain.  CPT code 99053 is reported in addition to the basic service").

Unfortunately, as there are no RVUs applied to this code in the Medicare (CMS) physician fee schedule, reimbursement may be problematic. Accordingly, check with local government payers and review your contracts with commercial payers prior to reporting this code. 

What is the correct method for determining whether patient care was provided between "10 PM and 8 AM?"

It should be clearly documented that patient care was provided during the defined period. There can be a number of ways of achieving such documentation, e.g., timed practitioner notation(s) of commencement and/or continuation of care, patient registration time, patient disposition time, etc. Some practitioners have focused on a particular timing measure for reasons of consistency and availability.

Updated June 2023

Disclaimer

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has developed the Reimbursement & Coding FAQs and Pearls for informational purposes only.   The FAQs and Pearls have been developed by sources knowledgeable in their fields, reviewed by a committee, and are intended to describe current coding practice. However, ACEP cannot guarantee that the information contained in the FAQs and Pearls is in every respect accurate, complete, or up to date.

The FAQs and Pearls are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Payment policies can vary from payer to payer. ACEP, its committee members, authors, or editors assume no responsibility for, and expressly disclaim liability for, damages of any kind arising out of or relating to any use, non-use, interpretation of, or reliance on information contained or not contained in the FAQs and Pearls. In no event shall ACEP be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of such information or material. Specific coding or payment-related issues should be directed to the payer.

For information about this FAQ/Pearl, or to provide feedback, please contact David A. McKenzie, ACEP Reimbursement Director, at (469) 499-0133 or dmckenzie@acep.org

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