99221 first hosp inpatient/obs sf/low 40
Also known as: initial hospital admission, hospital inpatient, first day hospital, initial hospital admit level 1, hospital admission straightforward, initial hospital admission level 1
Initial hospital inpatient or observation care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient with straightforward or low medical decision-making complexity.
In Plain Language
Hospital admission visit; First day in the hospital
Clinical Context
Used for the initial evaluation and management of a patient admitted to an inpatient hospital setting or observation status with straightforward or low medical complexity.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 1.63 |
| Total RVU | 1.63 |
Est. Medicare Payment
National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).
Billing & Documentation
E&M codes require documentation of medical decision-making (MDM) complexity or total time spent on the encounter. For 2026, time-based coding includes all physician time on the date of the encounter.
How This Code Compares
With a work RVU of 1.63, this code ranks in the 54th percentile among Evaluation & Management codes — 1.1x the median (1.54). The highest wRVU in this category is 18.46.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 99221?
CPT 99221 (first hosp inpatient/obs sf/low 40) is a Evaluation & Management code. Initial hospital inpatient or observation care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient with straightforward or low medical decision-making complexity.
Who uses CPT code 99221?
CPT 99221 is used by Internal Medicine, Hospital Medicine, All Specialties. Used for the initial evaluation and management of a patient admitted to an inpatient hospital setting or observation status with straightforward or low medical complexity.
When is CPT 99221 used?
Used for the initial evaluation and management of a patient admitted to an inpatient hospital setting or observation status with straightforward or low medical complexity.
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CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.