Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspiration

Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: Medicare denied our first claim using the new bone marrow codes. We billed 99211 (Office or other outpatient visit), 38221 and 38220 with modifier -51 (Multiple procedures) attached. The office visit was denied and the carrier said no E/M codes are allowed on the same day as surgery. Code 38220-51 was denied and the carrier said 38220 should be bundled with 38221. Can these three codes be billed separately?

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