Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Test your knowledge of these four common ENT problems.

In some cases, coding for otolaryngology may be a simple task, particularly when it’s a straightforward case that is clearly documented in the medical record. But finding the right codes for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) issues and workups can get tricky, even for veteran coders.

To help you gauge your level of expertise in coding the more complex ENT cases, we’ve put together a quick quiz. So put on your thinking cap and try answering the following coding scenarios.

Question 1: A patient with a history of sinusitis reports to your office complaining of headaches, facial pain, and nasal congestion lasting for almost four weeks. Your otolaryngologist diagnoses acute recurrent sinusitis. Do you

code J01.81 (Other acute recurrent sinusitis) or J01.91 (Acute recurrent sinusitis, unspecified)?

Question 2: A parent brings a toddler in to see your provider. The toddler is complaining of pain in the right ear. Should you code for otalgia or otitis media?

Question 3: Your otolaryngologist performed a lengthy cautery using a silver nitrate stick on both nostrils of a patient with a history of nosebleeds. What is the best way to report this procedure?

Question 4: A patient presents with extremely enlarged tonsils, vomiting, fever, and headache. Their parent tells the physician that strep has been going around in school. Your provider orders a strep test, but the test comes back negative. How do you code this?

Think you know the answers? Click here to know the Answers.