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Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Be Ready for External Hemorrhoid Coding

Published on Wed Apr 06, 2005

Question: I just learned that gastroenterologists sometimes treat external hemorrhoids as well as internal ones. Can you give me some info and CPT codes for external removals?

Alaska Subscriber Answer: While gastroenterology offices most often treat patients with internal hemorrhoids, your physician may also treat patients with an external case.
 
If your physician treats the patient with an incision, you should report 46083 (Incision of thrombosed hemorrhoid, external). If the physician treats the patient's hemorrhoids with cauterization, report 46935 (Destruction of hemorrhoids, any method; external) and/or 46936 (... internal and external). 
 
 - Clinical and coding expertise for this issue provided by Michael Weinstein, MD, a gastroenterologist in Washington, D.C., and former member of the CPT advisory panel; and Linda Parks, MA, CPC, CCP, an independent coding consultant in Marietta, Ga.
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