READER QUESTIONS:
New or Old Tube not Relevant
Published on Fri Jan 01, 2010
Question: Our surgeon went to the hospital to treat an admitted patient whose gastrojejunostomy tube had migrated to his stomach. The surgeon performed a problem-focused interval history and exam, then decided to perform an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to reposition the tube. How should I code this scenario? Utah Subscriber Answer: Judging by your encounter description, the patient's percutaneous jejunostomy tube (J tube) slipped and became a percutaneous gastrostomy tube (G tube). On the claim, report the following: • For the EGD, report 44373 -- Small intestinal endoscopy, enteroscopy beyond second portion of duodenum, not including ileum; with conversion of percutaneous gastrostomy tube to a percutaneous jejunostomy tube • For the E/M, list 99231 -- Subsequent hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient, which requires at least 2 of these 3 key components: a problem focused interval history; a problem focused examination; medical decision making that is straightforward or [...]
