Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Question: How would I code for four appointments for a single patient to map intraocular pressure at different times of the day?

South Carolina Subscriber

Answer:  CPT® code 92100 (Serial tonometry [separate procedure] with multiple measurements of intraocular pressure over an extended time period with interpretation and report, same day [e.g., diurnal curve or medical treatment of acute elevation of intraocular pressure]) would seem to be exclusively for intraocular pressure (IOP) tests done within a single day. However, you can only report it once, no matter how many times you perform it over several days.

If the ophthalmologist performs other services during those visits that meet the requirements of an evaluation and management (E/M) or general ophthalmological services (92002-92014) code, you can report each of those.

Bilateral coding: Only report one unit of service for 92100 regardless of whether you test one or both eyes. Do not code the test bilaterally with modifier 50 (Bilateral service) appended, because Medicare has judged that modifier inappropriate for this code.