Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert
AAO Previews Key CCI 9.1 Edits
If the bundling of anterior vitrectomies and cataract surgeries is giving you the blues, its time to sing another tune thanks to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. In an AAO press release, the Academy touted "a major victory" for ophthalmology coding and practice reimbursement: They reached an agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that will result in the deletion of the bundling of codes 67005 (Removal of vitreous, anterior approach [open sky technique or limbal incision]; partial removal) and 67010 ( subtotal removal with mechanical vitrectomy) into cataract surgery codes 66830-66986. The man of the hour, Michael X. Repka, MD, Academy associate secretary for health policy, is responsible for providing the clinical evidence against considering a vitrectomy an included part of the cataract surgery. The AAO news brief also asserts that the proposed bundling of corneal pachymetry (0025T) into the eye codes and E/M codes has been avoided, and according to William Rich III, MD, Academy secretary for federal affairs, Repka is again the one to thank. Expect to see these edits in CCI Version 9.1, effective April 1, 2003.
Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert
- Avoid Recurring Denials When Coding Recurrent Retinal Repairs
Don't split at the seams standing behind your coding method for recurrent retinal detachment repairs [...] - FAQs About Foreign-Body Sensation:
Complain When Tests Yield Negative Results
When a patient comes in with a complaint but the suspected diagnosis comes out negative, [...] - You Be the Coder:
Use 2 Codes for Infected Scleral Buckle
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Use Documentation to Get Exam And Foreign-Body Removal Paid
When ophthalmologists perform a foreign-body removal and an eye exam on the same day, they [...] - Reader Question:
Avoid 66852 for IOL Insertion
Question: How should I code the removal of a dislocated lens via a pars plana [...] - Reader Question:
Check Diagnosis for Astigmatism Correction
Question: Can you talk me through billing for astigmatism that was induced by cataract surgery? [...] - Reader Question:
Uncover Basic Suture Removal
Question: The day after undergoing a glaucoma filtering procedure, the patient returned to the office [...] - Reader Question:
Let CMS Doctor Your Injection Coding
Question: Can we bill an injection code separately? Ohio Subscriber Answer: Billing injection codes is [...] - Reader Question:
Use One Diagnosis for Pre-Ops
Question: What are the diagnosis-code requirements for billing preoperative exams? Is it one diagnosis code [...] - News You Can Use:
AAO Previews Key CCI 9.1 Edits
If the bundling of anterior vitrectomies and cataract surgeries is giving you the blues, its [...] - Code All Components of Ocular Photodynamic Therapy
Ocular photodynamic therapy (OPT), 67221, is used to treat the classic form of wet macular [...] - You Be the Coder:
Dont Confuse 67210 and 67228
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Check Laser Coding Using the Assigned Diagnosis Code
If you're not 100 percent sure that you will choose the appropriate laser code the [...] - Use 2 Diagnosis Codes to Report Diabetic Retinopathy
When a patient presents with diabetic retinopathy, ICD-9 instructs coders to code the patient's eye [...] - Use LASIK to Guide Your PRK and PTK Coding
LASIK, PRK and PTK are three laser refractive keratoplasty procedures that have a problem: The [...] - Reader Question:
Use -79 with Post-Op 67228
Question: One week after my ophthalmologist performed panretinal photocoagulation on a patient, the patient returned [...] - Reader Question:
Code TTT with Category III
Question: How should I code transpupillary thermotherapy? Is there a CPT code for this? Illinois [...] - Reader Question:
Determine Necessity for Post-Op 67228
Question: If the ophthalmologist performs 67210-RT and a month later the patient returns and the [...]
