Initial Hospital/Observation code for moderate MDM?

Initial Hospital/Observation code for moderate MDM?

• A. 99221
• B. 99222
• C. 99223
• D. 99224

Answer: (B)

For an initial hospital encounter, the level of medical decision making (MDM) determines the code, and the hospital inpatient set uses 99221, 99222, and 99223 for increasing complexity. Moderate MDM falls in the middle, which is coded as 99222. If the patient were in observation status, the initial observation codes (99218–99220) apply, with moderate MDM mapped to 99219—not an option here. So, given the scenario and choices, the best match for moderate MDM on an initial hospital encounter is 99222.

For an initial hospital encounter, the level of medical decision making (MDM) determines the code, and the hospital inpatient set uses 99221, 99222, and 99223 for increasing complexity. Moderate MDM falls in the middle, which is coded as 99222. If the patient were in observation status, the initial observation codes (99218–99220) apply, with moderate MDM mapped to 99219—not an option here. So, given the scenario and choices, the best match for moderate MDM on an initial hospital encounter is 99222.