Optometry Coding & Billing Alert

Record visual fields interpretation and report the right way.

Visual fields are a compliance hot spot, says David Gibson, OD, FAAO, a practicing optometrist in Lubbock, Texas. "To my knowledge, CPT nor CMS has never defined what 'interpretation and report' [I&R] is to consist of," he says. Optometrists should use the visual field I&R to record what their thinking process was at that moment by recording any changes noticed, how the field compares to other testing like OCT (92135, Scanning computerized ophthalmic diagnostic imaging, posterior segment, [e.g., scanning laser] with interpretation and report, unilateral), their plan for treatment (or not) and when the field needs to be run again.

Do this: Do the I&R so that you can pick it up in one year and know exactly what you were thinking and seeing at that point without having to re-analyze the field and previous fields, advises Gibson. Use the form below, provided by Gibson, to keep your records complete.