Question

question 17
a 3 - year - old critically ill child is admitted to the picu from the er with respiratory failure due to an exacerbation of asthma not manageable in the er. the provider starts continuous bronchodilator therapy and pharmacologic support along with cardiovascular monitoring and possible mechanical ventilation support. the provider documents a comprehensive history and exam and orders are written after treatment is initiated. what is the cpt® code for this encounter?
o 99475
o 99476
o 99284
o 99291

Explanation:

Step1: Identify the service

The scenario describes a critically - ill 3 - year - old child with asthma exacerbation, respiratory failure, and various medical interventions including mechanical ventilation support, pharmacologic support, and cardiovascular monitoring. A comprehensive history is also documented. This is a critical care service.

Step2: Recall CPT code rules

CPT codes for critical care services are used when a patient is critically ill and requires continuous physician attention. Code 99291 is for the first 30 - 74 minutes of critical care, and additional time is billed with 99292. In this case, since it's the initial service start, we look for the code for the first period of critical care.

Answer:

99291