Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Tip: Your bilateral reporting options may change for SCODI next year. Frustrated by the lack of specificity in scanning laser coding? Then get ready for 2011 -- next year's CPT Manual will not only help you distinguish between anterior and posterior segment scanning, but also provide new codes to distinguish between optic nerve and retinal scans. Although scanning laser ophthalmic diagnostic imaging (SCODI) is commonly used as a diagnostic test for early detection of glaucoma, it is also a valuable tool for the evaluation and treatment of individuals with retinal disease, including individuals with diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. SCODI is able to detail the microscopic anatomy of the retina and the vitreo-retinal interface. To distinguish between the two diagnostic purposes, CPT will delete the old all-purpose posterior segment SCODI code, CPT 92135 (Scanning computerized ophthalmic diagnostic imaging, posterior segment [e.g., scanning laser] with interpretation and report), and replace it [...]