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Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Nix Errors by Taking This Challenge

Published on Tue Jan 12, 2010

Beware: Some payers include nurse visit with venipuncture code. Think you've learned how to use the lowest level E/M code? Check out four common ob-gyn scenarios and determine whether you should report this code under these circumstances: Scenario 1: A patient drops off a urine specimen. What to do: You shouldn't charge 99211 for a urine specimen drop-off because the nurse doesn't perform an E/M service, says Beth Eisenshtat, patients account manager for Planned  Parenthood of Nassau County in Hempstead, N.Y. For the specimen handling and conveyance to an outside lab, however, you may be able to report 99000 (Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from the physician's office to a laboratory) per CPT Assistant, Oct. 1999, page 11. Some payers limit 99000 use to instances in which the practice incurs a cost in getting the specimen to the lab. Scenario 2: A patient presents for a blood draw. What [...]
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