Discharge services

Is the discharge service reserved for the admitting Dr only or can any of the Drs that see the patient during a hospital stay discharge them?

One example that we have come across is that our hospitialist admitted and saw a patient for chest pain along with diabetes, hypertension, etc. (but the main reason for the admission was the chest pain). He consulted the cardiologist-cardio saw the patient and then both the cardio dr and the hospitialist dr billed a discharge service. Ours (the hospitialist) discharge got to the insurance first therefore was paid on.

The insurance received a billed discharge service a little later from the cardiologist, recouped our money and is paying the cardio dr.

Should we appeal that?

Discharge services