Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Problem: With the demands of a job in coding, this isn't always an easy task. Attending seminars, audio conferences, and live conferences is a great way to earn CEUs, but this isn't always practical due to time and budget constraints.

Good news: You can use Ophthalmology Coding Alert to quickly and easily earn CEU credits.

"Using the Coding Alert articles is a great source for getting CEUs," says Wendy Willes, head of the CEUs/Member Services department of the AAPC. "It encourages coders to read the articles that are so informative to their career and specialty. If they are subscribing to the Coding Alert, they will get information pertaining to their career and will also be able to obtain CEUs at the same time."

Many subscribers, such as Rita Knapp, CPC, chief compliance officer and senior billing specialist at Abrams Eyecare Associates in Indianapolis, already use their subscription to tackle their CEUs. "Basically, I stated that we had a certain situation with a patient and I was able to reference the knowledge learned from the article to bill properly. It was very easy," Knapp says.

How it works: Look for key words such as "example," "scenario" and "op report," says Erin Lang Bonin, PhD, CPC, editorial director of Eli Research. "I look for those sorts of words and often find ready-made scenarios I can use to earn my CEUs," she adds.

Example: Put these bullets in your reference guide and submit them to the AAPC for a ready-to-go one CEU credit.

Summary: Newsletter -- Ophthalmology Coding Alert

When an ophthalmologist performs a glaucoma screening on a Medicare patient who qualifies as high-risk, you should use G0117 (Glaucoma screening for high-risk patients furnished by an optometrist or ophthalmologist) or G0118 (Glaucoma screening for high-risk patient furnished under the direct supervision of an optometrist or ophthalmologist).

You should report V80.1 (Special screening for neurological, eye, and ear diseases; glaucoma) as the associated diagnosis. You cannot separately report many services such as tonography (codes 92120 and 92130) based on National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) bundles.

("Safeguard Your Glaucoma Screening Claims With These Expert Answers to Your Top-3 Coding Questions" Ophthalmology Coding Alert Vol. 10, No. 4, April 2007)