99238 Hosp inpatient/obs dschrg management 30/<
Also known as: discharge management, hospital discharge day, same-day discharge, hospital discharge day management 30 min or less, discharge summary
Hospital inpatient or observation care, discharge day management for a patient with 30 minutes or less of physician or qualified health professional time spent on final hospital visit and discharge activities.
In Plain Language
Hospital discharge appointment; Leaving the hospital
Clinical Context
Used for hospital or observation discharge management when the physician or qualified health professional spends 30 minutes or less on discharge-related activities, including final examination, education, and discharge planning.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 1.50 |
| Total RVU | 1.50 |
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 1.50, this code ranks in the 50th percentile among Evaluation & Management codes — 1.0x below the median (1.54). The highest wRVU in this category is 18.46.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 99238?
CPT 99238 (Hosp inpatient/obs dschrg management 30/<) is a Evaluation & Management code. Hospital inpatient or observation care, discharge day management for a patient with 30 minutes or less of physician or qualified health professional time spent on final hospital visit and discharge activities.
Who uses CPT code 99238?
CPT 99238 is used by Hospital Medicine, All Specialties. Used for hospital or observation discharge management when the physician or qualified health professional spends 30 minutes or less on discharge-related activities, including final examination, education, and discharge planning.
When is CPT 99238 used?
Used for hospital or observation discharge management when the physician or qualified health professional spends 30 minutes or less on discharge-related activities, including final examination, education, and discharge planning.
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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.