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Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Pap Smears:

Don't Let Repeat Pap Smear Payment Slip Through Your Fingers

Published on Mon Sep 05, 2011

The wrong diagnosis code could cost you $41 per patient.If your patient's Pap smear results return as abnormal or display insufficient cells, the ob-gyn likely will perform a repeat smear. Use proper E/M coding to get the payment you deserve.Pap smear results can return as abnormal for various reasons. For instance, if the patient has an inflammation, such as vaginitis (616.10), which affects the results of the Pap smear, the physician likely will treat the condition and perform another smear once the problem has resolved.When the patient comes in for a second Pap smear, submit the appropriate E/M office visit code (99211-99215). You probably will be able to report a 99212 for this visit because the patient likely will come in only for the Pap smear. But CPT® does not include a code for taking the Pap, so you should use the office visit code. For example, 99212 (Office or [...]
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