Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

No Need For 46600 When Reporting 45305

Published on Fri Jun 10, 2011

Question: My gastroenterologist performs a rigid sigmoidoscopy. His notes indicate that during the encounter, he also performs an anoscopy without anesthesia and three biopsies of the mucous membrane. Would it be correct to report the exam separately with 46600?

California Subscriber

Answer: For these services (sigmoidoscopy, the anorectal exam, and the three biopsies), you only have to consider a single code: 45305 (Proctosigmoidoscopy, rigid; with biopsy, single or multiple). When the gastroenterologist performs an anoscopy, or mucous membrane biopsy during a sigmoidoscopy, the services are bundled into 45305, so you wouldn't have to report 46600 (Anoscopy; diagnostic, with or without collection of specimen[s] by brushing or washing [separate procedure])

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