99358 Prolong service without contact
Also known as: prolonged service office, extended office visit, prolonged E/M
Prolonged evaluation and management service in the office or other outpatient setting requiring direct patient contact beyond the usual service; first hour of service.
In Plain Language
Extended doctor's visit; Long office appointment
Clinical Context
Used when physician or qualified health professional spends prolonged time in direct patient contact in outpatient settings beyond what is typical for the primary evaluation and management code.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 1.80 |
| Total RVU | 1.80 |
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 1.80, this code ranks in the 60th percentile among Evaluation & Management codes — 1.2x the median (1.54). The highest wRVU in this category is 18.46.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 99358?
CPT 99358 (Prolong service without contact) is a Evaluation & Management code. Prolonged evaluation and management service in the office or other outpatient setting requiring direct patient contact beyond the usual service; first hour of service.
Who uses CPT code 99358?
CPT 99358 is used by All Specialties. Used when physician or qualified health professional spends prolonged time in direct patient contact in outpatient settings beyond what is typical for the primary evaluation and management code.
When is CPT 99358 used?
Used when physician or qualified health professional spends prolonged time in direct patient contact in outpatient settings beyond what is typical for the primary evaluation and management code.
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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.