Pediatric Coding Alert

Also, can you get passing grades on these screening, immunization questions?

The new school year is upon us. So why not take this quiz and improve your grades by correctly coding for a combination annual check-up and preschool physical that involves both a hearing and a vision screening and poliovirus (IPV) and measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) immunizations.

Question 1: Close Encounters of the Z Kind

Choose a Code: A 4-year-old patient presents to your office for a check-up/preschool physical. To code the encounter, would you use Z00.129 (Encounter for routine child health examination without abnormal findings) or Z02.0 (Encounter for examination for admission to educational institution)?

Question 2: Look to these Screening Codes and Hear How They Relate

Yes or No: If you bill for the preventive medicine component of the visit using CPT^® code 99392 (Periodic comprehensive preventive medicine reevaluation and management of an individual ...and the ordering of laboratory/diagnostic procedures, established patient; early childhood [age 1 through 4 years]), can you also bill separately for 99173 (Screening test of visual acuity, quantitative, bilateral) and 92551 (Screening test, pure tone, air only)?

Question 3: Avoid the Pain with Correct Immunization Coding

Choose a Code: Your pediatrician administers the IPV and MMRV immunizations to the patient, and counsels the patient's caregiver about them. Would you code 90471 (Immunization administration [includes percutaneous, intradermal, subcutaneous, or intramuscular injections]; 1 vaccine [single or combination vaccine/toxoid]) or 90460 (Immunization administration through 18 years of age ...; first or only component of each vaccine or toxoid administered) for this service?

Question 4: Decide Which Comes First

Yes or No: Can you get reimbursed for 90461 (Immunization administration through 18 years of age ...; each additional vaccine or toxoid component administered [List separately ...]) without reporting 90460?