If a patient is admitted after being seen in the ED, which codes does the ED physician choose?

The correct choice for coding when a patient is admitted after being seen in the Emergency Department (ED) is the range that corresponds to ED visit codes, which are specifically designed to classify the encounters in that setting.

ED visit codes encompass the levels of complexity and service provided to patients who are treated in the emergency setting, reflecting initial assessments, treatments, and determinations of need for hospitalization or discharge. The range of codes from 99281 to 99285 accurately reflects the various levels of service that can be provided in the ED, including both straightforward cases and more complex cases requiring comprehensive evaluation or intervention.

While other options suggest codes associated with different settings or levels of care, none apply to the context of an ED admission. The codes 99231 - 99233 are for subsequent hospital care, 99301 - 99305 are for initial hospital care with a different focus than ED visits, and 99221 - 99223 are for initial hospital inpatient consultations, which are also not relevant to the ED context. Thus, the best choice reflects the direct coding associated with the patient's visit to the ED prior to their admission.