ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Silver nitrate often equals 30901.

So you've got a claim in front of you that could qualify for 30901 (Control nasal hemorrhage, anterior, simple [limited cautery and/or packing] any method) coding. It might also be an ED E/M service, however, and conscientious coders should know the difference between the two.

Good advice: When scanning the procedure note,be on the lookout for these terms, which could indicate a 30901 service, offers Linda Martien, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-I, secretary for the American Academy of Professional Coders' (AAPC) national advisory board:

• silver nitrate
• electrocautery
• chemical cauterization.
• limited packing

Example: A patient has moderate to heavy bleeding in her right nostril; the physician uses ice and gauze, which does not abate the bleeding. The physician applies a nasal clamp for 15 minutes, then removes the clamp.There is still some bleeding, which the physician stops with limited silver nitrate cautery.

In this example, the physician performed simple treatment. On the claim, report 30901 with 784.7 (Epistaxis) appended.

Note Modifier Issues for Nosebleed Fix

If the physician happens to perform simple anterior nosebleed repair on both of a patient's nostrils, report 30901 with modifier 50 (Bilateral procedure) appended.