May 23, 2019 Question: What is the correct code for a tangential biopsy of the antihelical fold? I was going to bill 11102, but I was told that there are different codes in other sections of CPT for some biopsies. Answer: The correct code would be 69100, Biopsy external ear. As a bonus, this correct...
May 23, 2019 Question: My work RVUs are down this year. I do a lot of inferior turbinate submucous resection surgery and I code 30140 (Submucous resection inferior turbinate, partial or complete, any method). I noticed that the wRVUs for 30140 are now 3.00 and last year they were 3.57. This is a big hit...
May 23, 2019 Question: The surgeon accidentally nicked a vessel not involved in the bypass being performed, can he bill for repair of vessel since he had to repair it? Answer: Iatrogenic, intraoperative complications that are repaired at the same operative session are not separately reported. Since the vessel laceration was an iatrogenic injury, inadvertently...
May 23, 2019 Question: If a cubital tunnel release is performed by endoscopy how should it be reported? We report 64718 when it’s performed as an open procedure. Just not sure how to report it when it is done by endoscope. Answer: Thanks for your submission. There is currently no Category I CPT code for...
May 23, 2019 Question: I know that CPT code 64910 is the code I report for a nerve repair of the spine. My question is when performing this procedure on three levels how to I report this. Answer: You would report CPT code 64910 for each level. Since the second and third levels are bundled...
May 23, 2019 Question: One of my colleagues told me that she was doing e-consults with other physicians for Medicare and getting paid. Is this a billable service? Answer: Yes! Medicare has added CPT codes 99446-99452 for interprofessional/ telephone/internet/electronic health record (EHR) consultations to the fee schedule, so they are now payable services. These are...
May 23, 2019 Question: We are hiring a scribe for the doctor because it will help improve his documentation. Is there anything we need to know about how to document this? Answer: Yes, absolutely. This situation should be clearly delineated so a third party reviewer can identify the provider who performed the service, and the...
May 23, 2019 Question: We are starting to do platelet-rich plasma injections in the spine. Would we bill 64483? Answer: No because 64483 is specifically for an “anesthetic agent and/or steroid” injection. The most accurate code is 0232T (Injection(s), platelet rich plasma, any site, including image guidance, harvesting and preparation when performed). Be sure to...
May 9, 2019 Question: The vascular surgeon is called to the OR to repair a blood vessel that was inadvertently lacerated during a colectomy. I she a co-surgeon? Answer: No. The vascular surgeon will report her work with a repair vessel code (35221 if repaired directly). The other surgeon will report the work that he/she...
May 9, 2019 Question: What modifier do we use if a patient is returned to the OR the same day as the original surgery for post-op hemorrhage? Isn’t it 78 for this complication? Answer: Modifier 78 is a global period modifier and the global period begins on post-op day one. So it is not appropriate...
