What is the minimum amount of time that critical care must be documented as provided?

What is the minimum amount of time that critical care must be documented as provided?

• A. 15 minutes
• B. 30 minutes
• C. 60 minutes
• D. 90 minutes

Answer: (B)

Critical care time must meet a minimum threshold to qualify for these codes. In practice, you need at least 30 minutes of documented, direct critical care provided to the patient during the encounter. That means the first critical care code covers 30 to 74 minutes of care; if you spend more time, you add increments of 30 minutes for additional billing. So, the minimum you must document is 30 minutes. If you documented 45 minutes, you’d still be in the same first code, and if you documented, say, 80 minutes, you’d bill the first code plus an additional 30-minute increment.

Critical care time must meet a minimum threshold to qualify for these codes. In practice, you need at least 30 minutes of documented, direct critical care provided to the patient during the encounter. That means the first critical care code covers 30 to 74 minutes of care; if you spend more time, you add increments of 30 minutes for additional billing. So, the minimum you must document is 30 minutes. If you documented 45 minutes, you’d still be in the same first code, and if you documented, say, 80 minutes, you’d bill the first code plus an additional 30-minute increment.