Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Question: A physician in a hospital-based clinic (not private practice) saw a patient for scheduled visual field (VF) mapping and testing. The hospital's ophthalmology technician performed the suprathreshold test, and the physician reviewed and documented the results. Does this meet the requirements of an interpretation and report so that I can code for the physician's services?

Iowa Subscriber

Answer: You should report the ophthalmologist's service using modifier 26 (Professional component). Because the technician performed the test in the hospital, the hospital will code the service's technical portion. Since your physician interpreted the test and reported on the results, you should submit that portion of the service.

Here's how: Report 92082 (Visual field examination, unilateral or bilateral, with interpretation and report; intermediate examination [e.g., at least 2 isopters on Goldmann perimeter, or semiquantitative, automated suprathreshold screening program, Humphrey suprathreshold automatic diagnostic test, Octopus program 33]) with modifier 26 appended. The hospital will report 92082-TC (Technical component).