Final answer:
The neonatologist should code for services with CPT codes 99465, 99464, 99468-25, 31500, and 36510-51.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer would be C. 99465, 99464, 99468-25, 31500, 36510-51.
The neonatologist would use CPT codes to bill for the services provided during the birth of the 29-week gestation infant. The codes represent the following services:
- 99465: Initial hospital care for the critically ill newborn
- 99464: Initial hospitalization care for the critically ill newborn
- 99468-25: Initial intensive care, longer than 74 minutes
- 31500: Insertion of an endotracheal tube
- 36510-51: Insertion of an umbilical catheter for fluids
The services that would be coded for the neonatologist who attended the birth of a 29-week gestation neonate, performed endotracheal intubation, and umbilical catheterization for insertion for fluids would be represented by the codes 99468 (Critical care, per day, for the evaluation and management of the neonate), 99464 (attendance at delivery and initial stabilization of newborn), and 31500 (intubation, endotracheal, emergency procedure), 36510 (insertion of catheter, umbilical vein, newborn, for diagnosis or therapy), with the 51 modifier on 36510 indicating multiple procedures. Given the complexity and multiple services provided, option C most accurately reflects the coding for a neonatologist's services in this scenario. A total of 45 minutes was spent attending to this critically ill infant, indicating significant critical care time also justified by code 99468.