Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Find out why 43247 just won't do you any good. If you've asked yourself frequently what CPT® code to use when a physician removes a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube, and haven't found the answer, it's time you set your sights on reporting an E/M service. Fact: You wouldn't code a non-incisional PEG removal done in an office setting because CPT® bundles PEG tube removal into the E/M, according to CPT Assistant . Instead, you would report the procedure with the appropriate E/M code for that visit. E/M Remains Your Best -- and Only -- Selection Suppose your GI surgeon only removes the PEG tube and performs no other procedure. In this case, you can report an outpatient E/M code (99201-99215). You can use 43760 (Change of gastrostomy tube, percutaneous, without imaging or endoscopic guidance) linked with diagnosis code V55.1 (Attention to gastrostomy) if the gastroenterologist removed the PEG tube then placed [...]