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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesCPT cpt-99251-inpatient-consultation-problem-focused
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    CPT 99251: Inpatient Consultation, Problem-Focused

    Commercial payers pay $88 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 99251 describes an inpatient consultation for a new or established patient that requires a problem-focused history, a problem-focused examination, and straightforward medical decision making; the service is an inpatient consultation typically provided in a hospital or other inpatient setting and is used to document the initial consult evaluation when those three key components are met.

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    National Reimbursement Benchmarks

    National commercial pricing for CPT 99251 centers on BUCA as the average-commercial benchmark at $88.3. Blue Cross Blue Shield averages lower with a mean of $74 and substantial vertical spread, while Cigna sits at a single uniform value of $134.8 across reported percentiles. UnitedHealth Group averages $70.6, slightly below BUCA, and presents a distribution concentrated at lower percentiles than Cigna.

    Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75–P25) is widest for Blue Cross Blue Shield at $32.0, reflecting broader variability, while UnitedHealth Group is tightest at $17.7, indicating more concentrated contract rates. Cigna shows no interquartile spread in the supplied values, representing a single-point distribution, and BUCA’s percentiles produce an IQR of $21.8, placing it between the other payers in variability.

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    National Payer Mean Reimbursement Rates

    State Reimbursement Rates

    State: Alaska1 / 51

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 68-year-old male hospital inpatient is referred for an inpatient consultation by the admitting team for evaluation of acute chest pain and possible pneumonia. The consulting physician (hospitalist or internal medicine specialist) performs a problem-focused history and problem-focused examination, reviews recent chest radiograph and basic laboratory results, and provides straightforward medical decision making regarding diagnostic testing and initial management. Typical workflow: referral placed by primary team; consultant reviews chart and orders or reviews imaging and labs; consultant performs bedside focused history and focused cardiopulmonary examination; documents assessment and recommendations in the chart; communicates recommendations verbally to the requesting team; documents any follow-up plan. This visit is coded as 99251 when the consultation is for an inpatient (or observation) setting, requires the three key components (problem-focused history, problem-focused exam, straightforward MDM), and is for a new or established patient where the consultant’s role is advisory and discrete from ongoing primary inpatient care.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99221Initial hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patientUsed for the admitting physician’s comprehensive initial inpatient evaluation; may precede or follow a consult coded as when the admitting clinician performs the initial care.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    54Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    208M00000XHospitalist PhysicianHospitalists are physicians whose primary professional focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Their activities include patient ca…
    207R00000XInternal Medicine PhysicianA physician who provides long-term, comprehensive care in the office and the hospital, managing both common and complex illness of adolescents, adults…
    208D00000XGeneral Practice PhysicianA physician who specializes in the general practice of diagnosing, treating, and managing patients with a variety of illnesses and conditions.
    363LP1700XPerinatal Nurse PractitionerPhysician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Nurse Practitioner
    364SM0705XMedical-Surgical Clinical Nurse SpecialistPhysician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Clinical Nurse Specialist
    364SG0600XGerontology Clinical Nurse SpecialistPhysician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Clinical Nurse Specialist
    207WX0110XPediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician PhysicianAn ophthalmologist who specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus management. The subspecialty includes the medical and surgical management…
    261QR0404XCardiac Rehabilitation Clinic/CenterAmbulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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    99251
    99231Subsequent hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patientUsed for daily follow-up visits by the attending inpatient physician; may replace consult visits when the consultant becomes the managing clinician.
    99238Hospital discharge day management; 30 minutes or lessUsed for discharge summary and management when the inpatient stay concludes; documents final hospital instructions after consult recommendations are implemented.
    99241Office consultation for a new or established patientOffice-based consultation equivalent; differs by site of service but clinically similar content when consult occurs outpatient rather than inpatient.