Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Vaginal pH

Published on Thu Mar 01, 2001

Question: How do I bill for checking vaginal pH? I know there is a CPT code, but Im not sure this is a reimbursable charge.

Tami DeSmith
Office of Dr. Charles Gueriera, Manassas, Va.

Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.

Answer: The code for measuring vaginal pH is 83986 (pH, body fluid, except blood). For Medicare, append modifier -QW (CLIA waived test). This means your office has a certificate to perform the test. Various ICD-9 codes may be used, including 623.5 (leukorrhea) if the test shows a normal pH, 616.10 (vulvovaginitis) if the pH is alkaline, or 112.1 (candidiasis) if the pH is acidic. The range of reimbursement for the test is from $4.95 to $15.

Answered by Harry Stuber, MD, FACOG, a solo practitioner in Cookville, Tenn.

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