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ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Reader Questions:

Question Doctor About Tube Letter

Published on Sat Jan 01, 2005

Question: Limited documentation from a T-sheet indicates, "J tube replacement and suture in place." What CPT code should I report for a J tube placement, and can I report the suture separately, or does it roll into the evaluation and management (E/M) level?
      
Iowa Subscriber Answer: This situation comes up frequently. The most common tube of this type that physicians replace in the emergency department (ED) is a G tube - short for "gastrostomy." You should query the ED doctor to clarify the exact type of tube. If it's a G tube, consider reporting code 43760 (Change of gastrostomy tube). A "J tube" is a jejunostomy tube, and these are rarely inserted in the ED.
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