Gastroenterology Coding Alert

It’s all in the details.

Figuring out how to accurately use modifier JW might feel like solving a quantum physics problem if you’re not used to it. But it’s really a matter of knowing what details you need.

Reporting the actual dosage administered and the amount discarded, while being aware of the assigned billing unit so as not to submit an overpayment will require a great deal of attention to detail,” says Peggy Pugh, RN, CPC, CPC-H, CIPP/G, CCP, president of Coding Concepts in Pittsburgh.

Get the right facts and then be extra specific. Refer to the exact amounts of drugs you used and then select the most appropriate code, says Pugh.

Vital: You might need to educate your doctor on how what precisely she needs to include in the notes. Make sure your provider accurately documents the dosage administered, as well as the volume wasted, Pugh advises.