Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Good news: You can bypass IPPE with this modifier. The Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) version 16.0 didn't overlook the hysterectomy, vaginal graft, and colpopexy codes -- nor should you. To make sense of the deletions, break these additions into mutually exclusive and non-mutually exclusive. Heads up: January's CCI update deletes nearly twice as many edit pairs as it adds, according to CCI analyst Frank Cohen with CPA Health in Clearwater, Fla. It adds just 9,610 edit pairs, including 8,772 non-mutually exclusive and 839 mutually exclusive. But it deletes nearly 18,000 edit pairs. As usual, CCI reflects CPT 2010's additions (such as those for urodynamic and anesthetic injection codes), but it also takes into account CMS's new stance on consultation codes. In all these cases -- except those involving the anesthetic injection codes, you can bypass the edits with a modifier (such as 59, Distinct procedural services). You must have documentation to support [...]