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Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Bust These Delivery Coding Myths to StreamlineYour Ob Claims

Published on Fri Jul 17, 2009

Warning: Ordering twin delivery codes incorrectly could cost you $582. Focusing solely on global codes when your ob-gyn or hospital nursing staff performs a delivery will increase your chances of making a costly mistake. Sometimes extenuating circumstances require you to choose from itemized delivery codes -- and use modifiers like 51, 59, and 22. Face these five delivery myths and uncover the coding reality. Myth #1: Out-of-Town Ob-Gyn Means You Code Global Suppose your pregnant patients regular ob-gyn is out of town when the patient goes into labor. Your ob-gyn, who is not affiliated with the regular ob-gyn, performs a normal delivery. If you think this gives you leave to report a global ob code, then youre setting up your claim for disaster. Reality: You should report the delivery according to how your ob-gyn performed it -- either vaginal (59409, Vaginal delivery only [with or without episiotomy and/or forceps]) or cesarean (59514, [...]
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