Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Time is a factor when choosing between 91037 and 91038. When your physician's note suggests impedance and pH tests being performed together, you would look into the 9103x series of your CPT manual. Easy? Not quite. Take the following case in point. Scenario: The motility specialist performs impedance + pH test for over an hour. The patient, who complains of frequent and painful heartburn, leaves the office with the catheter in place until the next day. Dilemma: Can you bill 91038 by itself, or do you need to add 91034 at all? The key is to understand what each code entails, but don't just base your choice on the obvious. You should give weight to Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits, too. These guidelines should keep you on the right track. 1. Turn To 91037-91038 For Impedance Catheter When reporting esophageal function (impedance) tests, you would describe it using two codes: [...]