In this series we’re going to cover common billing mistakes and how to avoid them. This will save you from potential headaches with rejected billings, and help you get paid for your services faster.
Today we’re tackling an MSP fee code for practitioners in British Columbia –
00081 (Emergency bedside care)
When to bill Fee Code 00081
You can bill fee code 00081 when evaluating, diagnosing and treating a critically ill patient who requires constant bedside care.
In MSP’s words, a critically ill patient has an immediately life threatening illness or injury associated with any of the following conditions:
- Cardiac Arrest
- Multiple Trauma
- Acute Respiratory Failure
- Coma
- Shock
- Cardiac Arrhythmia with haemodynamic compromise
- Hypothermia
- Other immediate life threatening situations
This fee code includes the following procedure items where required: defibrillation, cardioversion, peripheral intravenous lines, arterial blood gases, nasogastric tubes with or without lavage and urinary catheters (as part of a cardiac arrest).
Tips for Billing 00081 & Mistakes to Avoid
00081 is billable for active hands on Life Saving Management only.
It is NOT payable for:
- Managing the patient’s family
- Discussion with other health care professions
- Arranging transfers.
- Call out or continuing care n/a with critical care fee codes.
The note section for your claim must be concise. Keep it under 20 characters to get it paid faster. You must indicate what was the urgent issue and what action was performed.
Keep is short! For example:
08:30 – 09:00 CPR, intubated, 09:00 – 09:30 IV meds, catheter insertion.
You are only required to list the name of the live saving management performed each 30 min interval.
Other examples:
- ACLS protocols
- Bagged
- Cardioversion
- Catheter insertion
- Central line insertion
- CPR
- Infusion
- Intubated
- IV meds
- O2
- Transfusion
- Ventilated
Reason for rejections:
- This code is billable in 30 min blocks and you must state what hands on life saving action occurred per each 30 min block.
- It’s billable with a visit/consult, but the visit is considered the first 30 minutes – 00081 is billable after that time period.
- Billing more than one unit of 00081. You must indicate in the note section what was done during each 30 minute block, or it will be refused by MSP as they will ask for more details.
Looking for more advice? See our MSP Billing Guide for more tips on submitting claims properly.
This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by RBC Ventures Inc. or its affiliates.
Additional Reading
Dr. Nour Khatib left medical school for a finance career, but a persistent calling encouraged her to return years later and become an emergency physician.
