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Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

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Code Blepharoplasty First in ASC

Published on Wed Jun 23, 2010

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--> Question: Our oculoplastic surgeon performed levator resection and blepharoplasty on both upper eyelids in the same surgical session. Can I code these procedures together (15823 and 67904), or are they considered bundled? Which one should I code as the primary procedure? Indiana Subscriber   Answer: If the oculoplastic surgeon performs the blepharoplasty (bleph) with excessive weight (15823, Blepharoplasty, upper eyelid; with excessive skin weighting down lid) on one eye and the blepharoptosis (ptosis) repair (67904, Repair of blepharoptosis; [tarso] levator resection or advancement, external approach) on the other eye, you may be able to report both codes by using modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) on 15823 to designate a separate site from 67904. Otherwise, you should report only 67904.   The Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) Version 15.1, effective April 1, 2009, made [...]
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