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Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Reader Question:

External Cephalic Version

Published on Fri Mar 01, 2002

Question: My physician performed a successful external cephalic version on a patient who is 37.5 weeks pregnant. She had not delivered at the time of version and is scheduled to come to the clinic next week. I have read in a coding manual that I cannot bill 59412 as a stand-alone service and that I should report it as an add-on when the same physician performs the service on the same date of service or other related services. How should I code this when no other service is provided?
          
Arkansas Subscriber     
Answer: Although CPT notes that it should be used in addition to codes for delivery, 59412 (External cephalic version, with or without tocolysis) is not an add-on code and should never be treated as such when billing with the delivery or other services.
     
CPT mentions the delivery codes to ensure that coders know it is not a procedure that is included as part of the global ob package and can be billed separately.
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