Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) Practice Exam

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When additional services are performed alongside a spanning emergency department visit, which date is reported?

  1. The date of admission

  2. The date of discharge

  3. The date the service was performed

  4. The date of the emergency visit

The correct answer is: The date the service was performed

When additional services are performed alongside a spanning emergency department visit, the date that is reported is the date the service was performed. This approach is consistent with coding guidelines which stipulate that each service rendered should be coded and billed based on when it actually took place. In the context of an emergency department visit, if multiple services are provided, it is essential to document the date of each specific service accurately to reflect the medical necessity and timing of the care delivered. Using the date of service helps in proper claim processing and in ensuring that healthcare providers are reimbursed for the specific care they rendered. While other dates, such as the date of admission or the date of discharge, may be relevant for certain purposes, they do not dictate the billing of services that occur during the visit. The date of the emergency visit itself is also a general reference point but does not pinpoint the specific timing of additional procedures or services that might have been performed at different times. Thus, the clarity of reporting the actual date the service was done is crucial in compliance and billing accuracy.