CPT code 99239: Hospital discharge day, more than 30 minutes2026 Medicare rate & RVUs in Washington, DC area
Discharge day management for a hospital inpatient or observation patient when the responsible physician or qualified practitioner spends more than 30 minutes on discharge work that day.
In Washington, DC area, Medicare pays $116.26 for 99239 in a facility. There’s no office rate.
Check a contract rate as a % of Medicare · 99239 nationwide
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 11 sections
What 99239 covers
This service covers the responsible clinician’s work on the day a patient leaves hospital inpatient or observation care after a stay spanning more than one calendar date. It can include a final examination, discussion of the hospital course with the patient and family, medication reconciliation and prescriptions, instructions for continuing care, coordination with home health, skilled nursing, or follow-up clinicians, and preparation of the discharge summary. Hospitalists, attending internists, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants commonly perform this work.
Select 99239 when documented discharge management time on that date exceeds 30 minutes; the work need not be continuous. Record the total minutes and the discharge activities performed. Use 99238 when discharge management takes 30 minutes or less or the time is not documented. The responsible discharging clinician reports the discharge service. A clinician providing a separate, medically necessary hospital visit on the discharge date reports the appropriate hospital E/M code for that encounter, rather than another discharge service.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
How Washington, DC area compares for 99239
Across 109 of 109 payment localities, the facility rate for 99239 runs from $99.81 in Arkansas to $141.97 in Alaska. Washington, DC area pays $116.26. The RVUs are the same everywhere; the geographic indexes change the dollars.
- Washington, DC area · this page$116.26
- Los Angeles, CA · California$113.08−$3.18
- Miami, FL · Florida$115.93−$0.33
- Chicago, IL · Illinois$114.12−$2.14
- Manhattan, NY · New York$119.04+$2.78
- Alaska · Alaska$141.97+$25.71
- Alabama · Alabama$100.56−$15.70
Other areas in District of Columbia first, then benchmark localities. Bars start at $0.
Every other payment area
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| ArkansasArkansas | — | $99.81 |
| ArizonaArizona | — | $104.87 |
| Bakersfield, CACalifornia | — | $108.65 |
| Chico, CACalifornia | — | $108.11 |
| El Centro, CACalifornia | — | $108.14 |
| Fresno, CACalifornia | — | $108.11 |
| Hanford, CACalifornia | — | $108.11 |
| Madera, CACalifornia | — | $108.11 |
| Merced, CACalifornia | — | $108.11 |
| Modesto, CACalifornia | — | $108.11 |
| Napa, CACalifornia | — | $117.79 |
| Oxnard, CACalifornia | — | $111.89 |
| Redding, CACalifornia | — | $108.11 |
| Rest of CaliforniaCalifornia | — | $108.11 |
| Riverside, CACalifornia | — | $109.88 |
| Sacramento, CACalifornia | — | $111.45 |
| Salinas, CACalifornia | — | $110.97 |
| San Diego, CACalifornia | — | $112.02 |
| Marin County, CACalifornia | — | $122.53 |
| San Francisco, CACalifornia | — | $122.35 |
| San Benito County, CACalifornia | — | $124.96 |
| Santa Clara County, CACalifornia | — | $124.22 |
| San Luis Obispo, CACalifornia | — | $109.38 |
| Santa Cruz, CACalifornia | — | $111.90 |
| Santa Maria, CACalifornia | — | $110.96 |
| Santa Rosa, CACalifornia | — | $112.93 |
| Stockton, CACalifornia | — | $108.11 |
| Vallejo, CACalifornia | — | $117.53 |
| Visalia, CACalifornia | — | $108.11 |
| Yuba City, CACalifornia | — | $108.11 |
| ColoradoColorado | — | $108.12 |
| ConnecticutConnecticut | — | $111.37 |
| DelawareDelaware | — | $106.02 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FLFlorida | — | $111.25 |
| Rest of FloridaFlorida | — | $107.94 |
| Atlanta, GAGeorgia | — | $108.31 |
| Rest of GeorgiaGeorgia | — | $104.40 |
| Hawaii, Guam, HIHawaii | — | $108.33 |
| IowaIowa | — | $100.83 |
| IdahoIdaho | — | $101.38 |
| East St. Louis, ILIllinois | — | $109.62 |
| Rest of IllinoisIllinois | — | $107.00 |
| Suburban Chicago, ILIllinois | — | $111.97 |
| IndianaIndiana | — | $101.66 |
| KansasKansas | — | $101.08 |
| KentuckyKentucky | — | $102.83 |
| New Orleans, LALouisiana | — | $105.54 |
| Rest of LouisianaLouisiana | — | $102.94 |
| Metropolitan Boston, MAMassachusetts | — | $114.61 |
| Rest of MassachusettsMassachusetts | — | $108.17 |
| Baltimore area, MDMaryland | — | $111.11 |
| Rest of MarylandMaryland | — | $107.18 |
| Rest of MaineMaine | — | $102.18 |
| Southern Maine, MEMaine | — | $104.31 |
| Detroit, MIMichigan | — | $109.19 |
| Rest of MichiganMichigan | — | $104.68 |
| MinnesotaMinnesota | — | $103.64 |
| Metropolitan Kansas City, MOMissouri | — | $104.63 |
| Metropolitan St. Louis, MOMissouri | — | $105.15 |
| Rest of MissouriMissouri | — | $102.35 |
| MississippiMississippi | — | $101.07 |
| MontanaMontana | — | $106.54 |
| North CarolinaNorth Carolina | — | $102.65 |
| North DakotaNorth Dakota | — | $103.37 |
| NebraskaNebraska | — | $100.96 |
| New HampshireNew Hampshire | — | $107.09 |
| Northern New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $116.14 |
| Rest of New JerseyNew Jersey | — | $112.64 |
| New MexicoNew Mexico | — | $105.18 |
| NevadaNevada | — | $105.69 |
| NYC suburbs and Long Island, NYNew York | — | $121.28 |
| Poughkeepsie and northern NYC suburbs, NYNew York | — | $113.69 |
| Queens, NYNew York | — | $118.86 |
| Rest of New YorkNew York | — | $103.49 |
| OhioOhio | — | $104.03 |
| OklahomaOklahoma | — | $102.21 |
| Portland, OROregon | — | $109.59 |
| Rest of OregonOregon | — | $104.84 |
| Metropolitan Philadelphia, PAPennsylvania | — | $110.08 |
| Rest of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania | — | $103.84 |
| Puerto RicoPuerto Rico | — | $106.79 |
| Rhode IslandRhode Island | — | $108.31 |
| South CarolinaSouth Carolina | — | $103.51 |
| South DakotaSouth Dakota | — | $103.00 |
| TennesseeTennessee | — | $101.40 |
| Austin, TXTexas | — | $107.79 |
| Beaumont, TXTexas | — | $103.52 |
| Brazoria, TXTexas | — | $105.68 |
| Dallas, TXTexas | — | $106.32 |
| Fort Worth, TXTexas | — | $106.09 |
| Galveston, TXTexas | — | $106.00 |
| Houston, TXTexas | — | $108.93 |
| Rest of TexasTexas | — | $104.53 |
| UtahUtah | — | $104.24 |
| VirginiaVirginia | — | $104.48 |
| Virgin Islands, VIUnited States Virgin Islands | — | $106.79 |
| VermontVermont | — | $103.61 |
| Rest of WashingtonWashington | — | $107.76 |
| King County, WAWashington | — | $115.83 |
| WisconsinWisconsin | — | $101.62 |
| West VirginiaWest Virginia | — | $105.00 |
| WyomingWyoming | — | $105.16 |
99239 rates by state
Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.
Explore a state
Local rates. Clear comparisons.
Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.
View every state and territory as a table
| State / territory | Office rate range | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| AK | No published base rate | 1 |
| AL | No published base rate | 1 |
| AR | No published base rate | 1 |
| AZ | No published base rate | 1 |
| CA | No published base rate | 29 |
| CO | No published base rate | 1 |
| CT | No published base rate | 1 |
| DC | No published base rate | 1 |
| DE | No published base rate | 1 |
| FL | No published base rate | 3 |
| GA | No published base rate | 2 |
| GU | No published base rate | 1 |
| HI | No published base rate | 1 |
| IA | No published base rate | 1 |
| ID | No published base rate | 1 |
| IL | No published base rate | 4 |
| IN | No published base rate | 1 |
| KS | No published base rate | 1 |
| KY | No published base rate | 1 |
| LA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MA | No published base rate | 2 |
| MD | No published base rate | 3 |
| ME | No published base rate | 2 |
| MI | No published base rate | 2 |
| MN | No published base rate | 1 |
| MO | No published base rate | 3 |
| MS | No published base rate | 1 |
| MT | No published base rate | 1 |
| NC | No published base rate | 1 |
| ND | No published base rate | 1 |
| NE | No published base rate | 1 |
| NH | No published base rate | 1 |
| NJ | No published base rate | 2 |
| NM | No published base rate | 1 |
| NV | No published base rate | 1 |
| NY | No published base rate | 5 |
| OH | No published base rate | 1 |
| OK | No published base rate | 1 |
| OR | No published base rate | 2 |
| PA | No published base rate | 2 |
| PR | No published base rate | 1 |
| RI | No published base rate | 1 |
| SC | No published base rate | 1 |
| SD | No published base rate | 1 |
| TN | No published base rate | 1 |
| TX | No published base rate | 8 |
| UT | No published base rate | 1 |
| VA | No published base rate | 2 |
| VI | No published base rate | 1 |
| VT | No published base rate | 1 |
| WA | No published base rate | 2 |
| WI | No published base rate | 1 |
| WV | No published base rate | 1 |
| WY | No published base rate | 1 |
How the 99239 rate is calculated
Each of 99239’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 99239
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.15
2.15 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.88
0.88 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.16
0.16 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
3.1900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$106.55
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
The exact Washington, DC area inputs and CMS source lines
PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv
13,028
- Code
- 99239
- Physician work
- 2.15
- Practice expense
- 0.88
- Malpractice
- 0.16
GPCI2026.csv
39
- Locality
- Washington, DC area
- Physician work
- 1.054
- Practice expense
- 1.178
- Malpractice
- 1.113
| Component | RVU | Locality factor | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician work | 2.15 | × 1.054 | 2.2661 |
| Practice expense | 0.88 | × 1.178 | 1.0366 |
| Malpractice | 0.16 | × 1.113 | 0.1781 |
| Total RVUs | 3.4808 | ||
| Conversion factor | × 33.4009 | ||
Facility rate, Washington, DC area$116.26
Facility: (2.15 × 1.054 + 0.88 × 1.178 + 0.16 × 1.113) × $33.4009 = $116.26
Payment rules and modifiers for 99239
99239 has no global surgery period, no multiple-procedure, bilateral or assistant-at-surgery adjustment, and no professional/technical split. What changes the payment is where the service happens: the place of service on the claim decides whether Medicare pays the office or the facility rate.
Place of service · 99239
Which rate does Medicare pay?
The POS code on the claim line (CMS-1500 box 24B).
POS 11 · non-facility rate · national
—
99239 isn’t priced in this setting.
How 99239 has changed in Washington, DC area
99239 · Office / nonfacility
Rate unavailable
Effective 2026-10-01
A rate is unavailable in one of these releases, so a change cannot be calculated.
One bar per available release, ordered by effective date. Missing rates remain gaps. These comparisons hold the code, setting and locality identifiers constant; they do not isolate which policy or input caused a change.
What changed, release by release
| Effective from | Office | Facility | CMS release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $116.26 | RVU26D |
| 2026-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $116.26 | RVU26C |
| 2026-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $116.26 | RVU26B |
| 2026-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $116.26 | RVU26A |
| 2025-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $122.35 | RVU25D |
| 2025-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $122.35 | RVU25C |
| 2025-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $122.35 | RVU25B |
| 2025-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $122.35 | RVU25A |
| 2024-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $125.13 | RVU24D |
| 2024-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $125.13 | RVU24C |
| 2024-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $125.13 | RVU24B |
| 2024-03-09 | Not available in this setting | $125.13 | RVU24AR |
| 2024-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $123.08 | RVU24A |
| 2023-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $128.05 | RVU23D |
| 2023-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $128.05 | RVU23C |
| 2023-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $128.05 | RVU23B |
| 2023-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $128.05 | RVU23A |
| 2022-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $118.30 | RVU22D |
| 2022-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $118.30 | RVU22C |
| 2022-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $118.30 | RVU22B |
| 2022-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $118.30 | RVU22A |
| 2021-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $119.74 | RVU21D |
| 2021-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $119.74 | RVU21C |
| 2021-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $119.74 | RVU21B |
| 2021-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $119.74 | RVU21A |
| 2020-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.53 | RVU20D |
| 2020-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.53 | RVU20C |
| 2020-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.53 | RVU20B |
| 2020-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.53 | RVU20A |
| 2019-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $120.44 | RVU19D |
| 2019-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $120.44 | RVU19C |
| 2019-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $120.44 | RVU19B |
| 2019-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $120.44 | RVU19A |
| 2018-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.61 | RVU18D |
| 2018-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.61 | RVU18C |
| 2018-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.61 | RVU18B |
| 2018-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.61 | RVU18AR1 |
| 2017-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.05 | RVU17D |
| 2017-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.05 | RVU17C |
| 2017-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.05 | RVU17B |
| 2017-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.05 | RVU17A |
| 2016-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $120.14 | RVU16D |
| 2016-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $120.14 | RVU16C |
| 2016-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $120.14 | RVU16B |
| 2016-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $120.14 | RVU16A |
| 2015-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.01 | RVU15D |
| 2015-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $121.01 | RVU15C |
| 2015-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $120.41 | RVU15B |
| 2015-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $120.41 | RVU15A |
| 2014-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $118.84 | RVU14D |
| 2014-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $118.84 | RVU14C |
| 2014-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $118.84 | RVU14B |
| 2014-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $118.84 | RVU14A |
| 2013-10-01 | Not available in this setting | $115.65 | RVU13D |
| 2013-07-01 | Not available in this setting | $115.65 | RVU13C |
| 2013-04-01 | Not available in this setting | $115.65 | RVU13B |
| 2013-01-01 | Not available in this setting | $115.65 | RVU13AR |
Where the Washington, DC area rate applies
Washington, DC area is a Medicare payment area, not a city. Our Census mapping connects it to 1 cities and communities in District of Columbia. Some span more than one payment area; confirm with the service ZIP.
- Washington
99239 billing questions
How is 99239 chosen over 99238?
The choice depends on documented discharge management time on that date. More than 30 minutes supports 99239; 30 minutes or less, or no documented time, supports 99238.
What activities count toward the discharge time?
Work on the discharge date can include the final exam, counseling the patient and family, reconciling medications, writing prescriptions and instructions, arranging post-discharge care, and completing the discharge summary. The minutes need not be continuous.
Can 99239 be billed when the patient is admitted and discharged on the same date?
No. For a same-date admission and discharge lasting at least eight hours, Medicare uses 99234–99236; a shorter stay is reported with an initial hospital inpatient or observation care code.
Can a consultant or second clinician bill a discharge code on the same day?
The clinician responsible for discharge reports 99238 or 99239. Another clinician who performs a separate, medically necessary visit may report the appropriate hospital E/M code for that encounter, subject to same-specialty, same-group billing rules.
Is a separate code needed for discharge from observation status?
No. For observation care spanning more than one calendar date, use 99238 or 99239 for discharge management based on documented time.
What documentation best supports this level?
Document total discharge management time exceeding 30 minutes on the discharge date and describe the work performed, such as counseling, medication reconciliation, and care coordination.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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