Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert
Code YAG Laser as Often as Medically Necessary
Question: Can a YAG be billed more than once in a patient's lifetime? Answer: The yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) laser, 66821 (Discission of secondary membranous cataract [opacified posterior lens capsule and/or anterior hyaloid]; laser surgery [e.g., YAG laser] [one or more stages]), is a "one or more sessions" code that you can only report once in the 90-day global period. If it is repeated after the 90-day global period, it is billable as long as there's medical necessity. - Advice for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions provided by Maggie M. Mac, CMM, CPC, CMSCS, consulting manager for Pershing, Yoakley & Associates, Clearwater, Fla; and Raequell Duran, president of Practice Solutions, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Iowa Subscriber
If the ophthalmologist performs a YAG laser procedure on a patient within the global period of cataract surgery, append modifier -78 (Return to the operating room for a related procedure during the postoperative period) to 66821.
Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert
- NCCI 11.0 Update:
Not Reporting Cataract Extractions With Pars Plana Vitrectomies? Now You Can
The first coding bundles of 2005 also tell you what you can - and can't [...] - Edits at a Glance:
Get the NCCI 11.0 Skinny Here
Forget wrestling with CMS spreadsheets - here's how the new bundles will affect your [...] - You Be the Coder:
Glaucoma Follow-Up for Nursing Home Patient
Question: How should I code an office visit for a wheelchair-bound nursing home patient who [...] - Check the Fee Schedule Before Billing Bilaterally
Just because the patient has two eyes doesn't mean modifier -50 applies If you've been [...] - CPT Reminder:
No More Amazing Grace Period To Use New Codes
Starting Jan. 1, you'll have to start reporting the new codes immediately CMS has scrapped [...] - Reader Questions:
Append -GV or -GW for Hospice Visits
Question: While I was away, my ophthalmologist saw a hospice patient. He left a note [...] - Reader Questions:
Avoid Billing Services When Patient Isn't Present
Question: A patient comes in to discuss the care of his wife, who is also [...] - Reader Questions:
Report Bleb Needling Separately Only in OR
Question: My ophthalmologist performed a needling procedure during the postoperative period of a trabeculectomy to [...] - Reader Questions:
Code YAG Laser as Often as Medically Necessary
Question: Can a YAG be billed more than once in a patient's lifetime?
Iowa Subscriber
Answer: [...] - Are You Ready to End Your E/M-Guideline Confusion? We Can Help
Use CMS' responses to our questions to report correct E/M levels Like many coders, you've [...] - You Be the Expert:
Should You Factor Patient's Status?
Question: During an office visit, my doctor performed an expanded problem-focused history, a problem-focused examination, [...] - Bonus Question:
Improve Your Prescription Drug Documentation
Find out what CMS has to say about the management options category Calculating a patient's [...] - Reader Question:
Let the Elements Drive Your History Documentation
Question: The chart that physicians use to select the level of history includes identifiers. For [...]
