99238
Hosp ip/obs dschrg mgmt 30/<
Hospital inpatient or observation discharge day management, 30 minutes or less.
Published by RVUDoc. Numeric data: CMS RVU26C, effective 2026-07-01. Page updated 2026-09-23. Calculation limits and editorial policy.
No national non-facility estimate is shown for this status or setting. This does not determine other payer coverage.
Billing guidance for 99238 is locked
- When to use it: the exact clinical situations that support billing 99238
- Documentation checklist: the 2 elements your note needs before submitting
- Common pitfalls: the 5 mistakes that get 99238 downcoded or denied
Payer notes
Verify discharge responsibility, service date and payer requirements. For short stays across calendar dates, confirm current MAC guidance rather than assuming elapsed time is irrelevant.
Related codes
These include alternative services and possible add-ons. Listing codes together does not establish that they can be billed together; check the applicable edits and payer policy.
See what 99238 adds to your year
Add it to the wRVU calculator with your own volume, or paste a note and let the chart audit check your coding.