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Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Ob Ultrasound the Only Option for Pregnant Patient

Published on Tue Jul 01, 2003

Question: A patient who had been on Clomid came in very early during her pregnancy for a transvaginal ultrasound to establish the number of fetuses. The ob-gyn identified two. He also wanted an ultrasound because of a possible cyst. How should we report this?

Missouri Subscriber  

Answer: Because the patient is pregnant, you should use only 76817 (Ultrasound, pregnant uterus, real time with image documentation, transvaginal). This code includes any work the ob-gyn did to look at the ovaries or any maternal structure. And you can bill it only once because part of the work involved would be to report any additional findings in this case, the number of fetuses.
 
Dont think you can report 76830 (Ultrasound, transvaginal) for the time the doctor spent reviewing the cyst by ultrasound. This service is included in 76817, and you should not bill it separately.
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