Gastroenterology Coding Alert

V codes fit primary diagnosis, but only for screening high risk patients. Confused about when to use G codes or how to sequence your polyp codes? Medicarespecific G codes for colorectal cancer screening, secondary diagnosis coding, and modifiers PT or 33 may just provide you with the needed help. The key to these situations is two-fold: knowing the patient's history and highlighting the physician's findings. Background: Many health providers have a tough time resolving Medicare coverage for colonoscopy, particularly the issue of distinguishing between screening and therapeutic colonoscopies. Because of a legislation passed in 2010 which waived Medicare deductibles and copay percentage, gastroenterologists and patients now expect Medicare to cover all colonoscopy-related expenses. In reality, however, the waiver only applies to a colonoscopy performed for average risk colorectal cancer screening, a service rated "A" by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This means a patient will have to shell [...]