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Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Code Ectopic Pregnancies Easily With This Advice

Published on Tue Sep 26, 2006

Question: My ob-gyn did a diagnostic laparoscopy, an exploratory laparotomy, and a cornual resection for an ectopic pregnancy. I have the laparoscopic procedures figured out, but what is the code for the cornual resection?


Maine Subscriber
Answer: If the ob-gyn performed the cornual resection through an open incision, you should report 59136 (Surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy; interstitial, uterine pregnancy with partial resection of uterus). The reason is that this type of pregnancy is -interstitial.- An interstitial pregnancy means the ectopic pregnancy developed in the uterine portion of the fallopian tube.

You may not bill for the exploratory laparotomy, and you may or may not receive reimbursement for the diagnostic laparoscopy. Consider billing 59136-22 (Unusual procedural services) to cover the laparoscopic portion of the surgery, but remember to also report V64.41 (Laparoscopic surgical procedure converted to open procedure) to indicate the converted procedure.
 
The answers for Reader Questions and You Be the Coder were provided by Melanie Witt, RN, CPC-OGS, MA, an ob-gyn coding expert based in Guadalupita, N.M.
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