99231 Sbsq hosp inpatient/obs sf/low 25
Also known as: subsequent hospital visit, daily hospital follow-up, inpatient day 2+, subsequent hospital visit level 1, hospital follow-up low, hospital subsequent level 1
Subsequent 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
Routine hospital follow-up; Daily hospital check
Clinical Context
Used for subsequent days of hospital or observation care involving straightforward or low medical decision-making complexity, such as stable patient status or standard post-operative monitoring.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 1.00 |
| Total RVU | 1.00 |
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 1.00, this code ranks in the 30th percentile among Evaluation & Management codes — 1.5x below the median (1.54). The highest wRVU in this category is 18.46.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 99231?
CPT 99231 (Sbsq hosp inpatient/obs sf/low 25) is a Evaluation & Management code. Subsequent 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 99231?
CPT 99231 is used by Hospital Medicine, Internal Medicine, All Specialties. Used for subsequent days of hospital or observation care involving straightforward or low medical decision-making complexity, such as stable patient status or standard post-operative monitoring.
When is CPT 99231 used?
Used for subsequent days of hospital or observation care involving straightforward or low medical decision-making complexity, such as stable patient status or standard post-operative monitoring.
Track This Code in RVU Edge
Log procedures, calculate wRVUs, and benchmark against MGMA data — all in one app.
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.