99253 inpatient/obs cnsltj new/established low 45
Also known as: hospital consultation low, inpatient specialist, hospital consult
Inpatient or observation hospital consultations for a new or established patient with low medical decision-making complexity and an expected time of 45 minutes.
In Plain Language
Hospital specialist evaluation; Inpatient consultation
Clinical Context
Used for hospital or observation consultations with low medical decision-making complexity, such as evaluation of specific acute problems or complications with relatively straightforward diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 2.00 |
| Total RVU | 2.00 |
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 2.00, this code ranks in the 68th percentile among Evaluation & Management codes — 1.3x the median (1.54). The highest wRVU in this category is 18.46.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 99253?
CPT 99253 (inpatient/obs cnsltj new/established low 45) is a Evaluation & Management code. Inpatient or observation hospital consultations for a new or established patient with low medical decision-making complexity and an expected time of 45 minutes.
Who uses CPT code 99253?
CPT 99253 is used by Specialist Physicians, Hospital Medicine. Used for hospital or observation consultations with low medical decision-making complexity, such as evaluation of specific acute problems or complications with relatively straightforward diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
When is CPT 99253 used?
Used for hospital or observation consultations with low medical decision-making complexity, such as evaluation of specific acute problems or complications with relatively straightforward diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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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.