What is code 99215 used for?

Asked by: Ida Kertzmann  |  Last update: June 26, 2025
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The CPT evaluation and management (E/M) code 99215, “Office or other outpatient visit for an established patient,” is rarely used, accounting for about 5 percent of E/M visits.

What qualifies for a 99215?

The 99215 CPT code is an evaluation and management (E/M) code used for advanced evaluation and management services during office or other outpatient visits.

What is an example of a 99215 visit?

Example: If a physician spends 50 minutes with a patient, and 30 of those minutes are spent discussing treatment options, coordinating care with specialists, and providing patient counseling, CPT 99215 can be appropriately billed.

Can a nurse practitioner bill a 99215?

CPT codes for NP visits

Generally, when an NP or physician assistant (PA) sees a patient in a physician's office, he or she should use the usual office or other outpatient visit codes (99201-99215).

What is prolonged services for 99215?

Similarly, for an established patient office or other outpatient encounter (e.g., 99215), reporting a prolonged service code is permissible once at least 15 minutes have been accrued beyond 40 minutes (i.e., a total of 55 minutes) on the encounter date.

E/M Codes 99202-99215

31 related questions found

What is a level 5 office visit?

Level 5 visits (code 99205) require a high level of medical decision-making and number and complexity of problems addressed (ie, one or more chronic illnesses with severe exacerbation progression or side effects of treatment or one acute or chronic illness that poses a threat to life or bodily function), an extensive ...

What is the difference between 99215 and 99214 in 2024?

99214: Higher level of care with a more comprehensive history and examination, and moderate complexity decision-making. 99215: Highest level of care with extensive history and examination, and high complexity decision-making.

What modifier should be added to 99215?

In addition, the appropriate level of E/M service for an office or other outpatient visit for a new or established patient (99202–99205, 99212–99215) would be reported with modifier 25 appended to indicate that a significant, separately identifiable E/M service was provided.

What two factors may be considered in assigning an outpatient visit code?

Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, which requires at least 2 of these 3 key components: A problem focused history; A problem focused examination; Straightforward medical decision making.

What is the CPT code for outpatient visit?

Office or Other Outpatient Services CPT® Code range 99202- 99215.

How to determine medical decision making?

Capacity is the basis of informed consent. Patients have medical decision-making capacity if they can demonstrate understanding of the situation, appreciation of the consequences of their decision, and reasoning in their thought process, and if they can communicate their wishes.

What is the criteria for 99215?

The provider sees an established patient for an office visit or other outpatient visit involving evaluation and management. The visit involves a high level of medical decision making, and/or the provider spends 40 or more minutes of total time on the encounter on a single date.

How much does insurance pay for a 99214?

The current reimbursements for code 99214 at two of the most popular programs are: Medicare: $126.07. Medicaid: $68.97.

What is an example of a Level 5 ER visit?

‍An ER visit level 5 typically requires a minimum of three diagnostic tests — for example, a lab plus EKG and X-ray. Or, any type of imaging scan like a CT scan or MRI where a patient must ingest or be injected with contrast material, will automatically qualify your visit as an ER visit level 5.

What determines the level of an office visit?

Medical decision making drives the level of office visit

The medical decision-making portion of evaluation and management guidelines is what ultimately determines the level billed. Higher complexity in decision making justifies higher levels.

How many years before a patient is considered a new patient?

Medicare has stated that a patient is a new patient if no face-to-face service was reported in the last three years.

How to bill for a prolonged office visit?

For CPT codes, use prolonged code 99417 for office services, consults, home and residence services and cognitive assessment; For hospital and nursing facility codes, use 99418. CMS has three prolonged care codes.

What is the difference between 99205 and 99215?

Another important distinction between the new patient and established patient codes is that the new patient code range (99202-99205) mandates all three key components (history, examination, and medical decision-making) to be met, whereas the established Patient CPT Code Range (99211-99215) requires only two of the ...