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Pulmonology Coding Alert

CPT® 2012 Update:

Pay Attention to These New And Revised Diagnostic Thoracoscopy Codes For Appropriate Reporting

Published on Sun Feb 26, 2012

Changes require more specificity. CPT® 2012 delivered a load of changes to the way you report thoracoscopy. In addition to including the term "VATS" (video-assisted thoracic surgery) to the thoracoscopy section descriptor, CPT® 2012 also introduced three new codes to represent diagnostic thoracoscopy while phasing out the older codes. Check out our advice that follows on accurately reporting diagnostic thoracoscopy this year. Attention! Lung Biopsy Will Now be More Specific Your options for coding thoracoscopies with a diagnostic biopsy expand in 2012. Now, instead of 32602 (Thoracoscopy, diagnostic [separate procedure]; lungs and pleural space, with biopsy), you will need to report thoracoscopy with biopsy using the newly created codes: 32607 -- Thoracoscopy; with diagnostic biopsy[ies] of lung infiltrate[s] {e.g., wedge, incisional), unilateral 32608 -- Thoracoscopy; with diagnostic biopsy[ies] of lung nodule[s] or mass[es] [e.g., wedge, incisional], unilateral 32609 -- Thoracoscopy; with biopsy[ies] of pleura Benefits: This CPT® 2012 change has differentiated the three [...]
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