Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
Know When CCI Bundles Procedures
Question: When we are billing out a transcranial Doppler (TCD), we use codes 93886, 93893, 93892, and 93890. Can we not bill these certain codes together? Also, we used to bill dynamic flow with 93875 and the code was deleted in 2012. Is there a new code that we can use?
Answer: Code 93892 (Transcranial Doppler study of the intracranial arteries; emboli detection without intravenous microbubble injection) is bundled into 93893 (Transcranial Doppler study of the intracranial arteries; emboli detection with intravenous microbubble injection). So you should not report 93982 and 93983 together. You can bill together for 93886 (Transcranial Doppler study of the intracranial arteries; complete study), 93893 and 93890 (Transcranial Doppler study of the intracranial arteries; vasoreactivity study).
The noninvasive physiologic studies code 93875 (Noninvasive physiologic studies of extracranial arteries, complete bilateral study [e.g., periorbital flow direction with arterial compression, ocular pneumoplethysmography, doppler ultrasound spectral analysis]) was deleted in 2012 because the service is no longer performed. A new “unlisted” code has been added as its replacement. Choose 93998 (Unlisted noninvasive vascular diagnostic study) to bill the dynamic flow.
Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
- Medicare Policy Updates:
CMS Knows You're Confused About POS Rules
Agency creates FAQs on the topic—which prompt even more questions. When CMS issued Transmittal 2679 [...] - Medicare Funding:
Medicare Projected to Go Broke in 2026, Trustees' Report Says
Part A is poised to run out of money — but it’s two years later than [...] - Transitional Care Management:
4 CMS-Approved Tips Keep Your TCM Income Flowing
Hint: These codes apply to both new and established patients. Now that you’ve had a [...] - Pre-Op Visit Reporting:
Look to E/M Codes and 'V' Codes to Collect for Your Preoperative Clearance Visits
Z01.818 will be your friend under ICD-10 when you perform preop visits. If a surgeon [...] - Part B Coding Coach:
Don't Be Blind to 3 Factors When Coding Ocular Foreign Body Removals
Look Closely At The Documentation For These Clues to Determine The Right Code Assignment A [...] - Physician Note:
OIG Recovered $3.8 Billion in the First Half of FY 2013
Plus: Medicaid data mining could happen soon. Medicare may be cutting back on payments for [...] - In other news
You should be paying attention to your claims and other data, because authorities certainly are [...] - Reader Question:
Report Finished Procedure Only
Question: After discussing the risks and benefits of both cryotherapy and photocoagulation for a retinal [...] - Reader Question:
Know When CCI Bundles Procedures
Question: When we are billing out a transcranial Doppler (TCD), we use codes 93886, 93893, [...]
