Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

You can break the bundles with modifier 59 -- but only in certain circumstances.If your ophthalmologist wants to treat obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) with a new automated device, there's good news and bad news. The good news: There is a temporary category III CPT® code to describe the use of new technology to evacuate the meibomian glands. The bad news: The latest version of the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) will restrict how you can use that code with other eyelid procedures, as of July 1, 2011.CPT® code 0207T (Evacuation of meibomian glands, automated, using heat and intermittent pressure, unilateral), introduced in 2010, is now included in:67800 -- Excision of chalazion; single67801 -- ...multiple, same lid67805 -- ...multiple, different lids67808 -- ...under general anesthesia and/or requiring hospitalization, single or multiple67840 -- Excision of lesion of eyelid (except chalazion) without closure or with simple direct closure67850 -- Destruction of lesion of lid margin (up to 1 cm).A previous [...]