Pediatric Coding Alert

Question: We were told that we could bill Medicaid when our physician reads TB test results. Is this true?

New York Subscriber

Answer: Yes, you can bill for the test reading as a separate E/M visit. Report 99211 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, that may or may not require the presence of a physician. Usually, the presenting problem[s] are minimal ...). Although 99211 represents a minimal encounter, CPT Assistant supports billing the service.

Include V74.1 (Special screening examination for bacterial and spirochetal diseases; pulmonary tuberculosis) to explain the encounter.