Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Question: Is there a better code than V76.10 (Special screening for malignant neoplasms; breast; breast screening, unspecified) for a breast exam? The doctor decided to do just the breast exam without the annual. The code description is breast cancer screening, and he did a manual exam.


California Subscriber

Answer: You should probably use V76.19 (- other screening breast examination) instead.
 
Heads up: Hopefully, this was not a Medicare patient. Medicare does not cover routine breast screenings by themselves. In other words, they won't cover a routine breast screening exam when it is not in conjunction with a pelvic exam.