Otolaryngology Coding Alert
No Modifier Necessary When It's Not Co-Surgery
Question: We performed a tongue biopsy on a patient while the patient was in the operating room for a gastroenterological procedure. When we first saw the patient, she was too ill to biopsy this lesion, but whenstabilized, the gastroenterologist took her to the OR and called us in to perform this biopsy. Should we append modifier 62 or 80 to this service? Texas Subscriber Answer: No, you should not append modifier 62 (Two surgeons) or modifier 80 (Assistant surgeon) to either 41100 (Biopsy of tongue; anterior two-thirds) or 41105 (Biopsy of tongue; posterior one-third). Your ENT performed side-by-side surgeries with the gastroenterologist. The physician did not perform cosurgery (modifier 62) or assist with the GIs procedure (modifier 80).
Otolaryngology Coding Alert
- Epley Revisited:
Just Because We Get a New Code Does not Always Mean We Get New Pay
Medicare slaps bundled status on 95992, denies reimbursement for new code. In January, you finally [...] - You Have to Know Your Gastro Coding When ENTs Get Adventurous
Be prepared as T-EGD procedures filter into otolaryngology practices. A few ENTs are venturing into [...] - Reporting PQRI? Don't Lose Bonus Due to Coding Errors
CMS: Youve got to be on top of your age, gender, dx. Most practices would [...] - Know Your Anatomy for EGD Coding
If your ENT ventures past the pharynx, youll want to review some basic anatomy. Esophagus: [...] - You Be the Coder :
Code This Complex Nasal Endoscopy
Question: With an endoscope, our physician removed a massive nasal mass obstructing the nasal vault [...] - Correction
In the You Be the Coder item in Otolaryngology Coding Alert vol. 11, no. 2, [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
You Can't Append 50 to This Laryngoscopy Code
Question: Can you bill 31541 bilaterally? I had heard awhile back that Medicare allows it; [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Make Sure Pathologist Renders 'Uncertain' Dx
Question: What is the difference between coding a neoplasm of unspecified morphology and one of [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Withhold Payment Until Outside Firm Gets NPIs
Question: Our client practice, an otolaryngology group, employs several audiologists. We have their NPI numbers [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
CCI Bundles PE Tube with Tympanoplasty
Question: If the surgeon performs a tympanoplasty without mastoidectomy or ossicular chain reconstruction (69631) and [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Look to Add-On Code When Doc Takes Extra Time
Question: Our physician got called for an inpatient consultation for patient with epistaxis. The nasal [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
No Modifier Necessary When It's Not Co-Surgery
Question: We performed a tongue biopsy on a patient while the patient was in the [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Modifier 52 Helps Describe Resection, Outfracture
Question: I have a physician who wants to bill both 30140 and 30930 during the [...]
