Optometry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: We used SLGT on a patient to test for glaucoma. We performed the test on both eyes. Should we report this with two separate codes?

Missouri Subscriber

Answer: Medicare considers scanning laser glaucoma testing (SLGT) code 92135 (Scanning computerized ophthalmic diagnostic imaging, posterior segment [e.g., scanning laser], with interpretation and report, unilateral) to be inherently unilateral, meaning that the RVUs in the fee schedule represent the work done on only one eye.

Carriers differ on how you should report a scanning laser test on both eyes. Medicare and many private carriers look for 92135 reported on two lines of the billing form, each with a "1" in the units field and with modifier LT (Left side) appended to one and RT (Right side) appended to the other. However, some carriers may want you to report one unit of 92135 with modifier 50 (Bilateral procedure) appended.

Tip: If you perform an SLGT on only one eye, report one unit of 92135 and append modifier RT or LT to indicate which eye you evaluated.