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Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

No Need for Ob-Gyn's Presence on TC/26 Code

Published on Tue Feb 07, 2006

Question: We-re charging for a fetal non-stress test (NST). Is it OK if the ob-gyn was not present on the day the patient underwent the NST?


Minnesota Subscriber
Answer: Yes. The code for the NST (59025, Fetal non-stress test) has both a technical (modifier TC, Technical component) and professional component (modifier 26, Professional component) and no requirement for direct physician supervision. 

Important: If your ob-gyn wasn't present for the NST performed at the hospital and documented the interpretation, you should report 59025-26. The hospital would then report 59025-TC. If the patient underwent the NST in the office, you should report 59025 alone.
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