What is the medical code 99233?

The medical CPT code 99233 is used for office visits. It is defined as "Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, that typically requires a medically appropriate history and/or examination and decision-making of moderate complexity. Using problem-focused interval history; 10 minutes."

This code is reported when the physician sees a patient in an outpatient setting for a follow-up visit or consultation, and the visit is typically 10 minutes or less. The code includes the history, examination, and medical decision-making required to provide appropriate care for the patient.

The code 99233 is part of the series of codes for office visits, which range from 99211 to 99233. The codes in this series are used to report office visits of different levels of complexity, based on the time spent and the complexity of the medical decision-making required.

To correctly code for an office visit, the physician must document the patient's presenting symptoms, the history of the illness or condition, the results of any physical examination, and the medical decision-making that led to the diagnosis and treatment plan. The code 99233 should only be used when the visit meets the criteria for this level of complexity.

If the visit is more complex or lasts longer than 10 minutes, a higher-level code from the 99211 series should be reported. It is important to accurately code office visits to ensure proper reimbursement and documentation of the care provided.