Gastroenterology Coding Alert
Reach for Unlisted Code for Tattooing During Enteroscopy
Question: New Jersey Subscriber Answer: The next thing that you need to be checking for is to see the approach that your gastroenterologist used for performing the procedure. The usual approach is through the mouth and has specific CPT® codes for the procedure. If your gastroenterologist used an approach through the rectum, you do not have specific CPT® codes and you will have to reach out to the unlisted procedure code 44799 (Unlisted procedure, intestine). When your gastroenterologist performed a double balloon enteroscopy through the mouth, you will have to check the extent to which your gastroenterologist viewed the small bowel. If your gastroenterologist performed an enteroscopy beyond the second portion of the duodenum but not the ileum, you will have to report 44360 (Small intestinal endoscopy, enteroscopy beyond second portion of duodenum, not including ileum; diagnostic, with or without collection of specimen[s] by brushing or washing [separate procedure]). Since your gastroenterologist performed a tattooing procedure in the most distal portion of the ileum, the enteroscopic visualization includes the ileum. So, you will report the double balloon enteroscopy with 44376 (Small intestinal endoscopy, enteroscopy beyond second portion of duodenum, including ileum; diagnostic, with or without collection of specimen[s] by brushing or washing [separate procedure]). Since there is no specific code to report the tattooing procedure that your gastroenterologist performed, you will have to settle for 44799 to report this.
Gastroenterology Coding Alert
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