Pulmonology Coding Alert
Tracheostomy
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: A patient is rushed into the emergency room with damage to the throat that is so severe, it is preventing the patient from breathing. The patient is given a tracheostomy. How would you code this? In addition, how would you code a tracheostomy procedure that results from the presence of a tumor, if it is planned and a bronchoscopy is performed at the same time?
Illinois Subscriber
If a basic tracheostomy procedure is planned, use 31600 (tracheostomy, planned [separate procedure]). A diagnostic bronchoscopy through an established tracheostomy is normally described by code 31615 (tracheobronchoscopy through established tracheostomy incision).
A tracheostomy using a fenestration procedure is described with code 31610 (tracheostomy, fenestration procedure with skin flaps), which should not be confused with 31500 (intubation, endotracheal, emergency procedure) or 31515 (laryngoscopy direct, with or without tracheoscopy; for aspiration).
Tracheostomy procedure codes differ depending on the approach and on whether the procedure was planned or an emergency.
Editors note: Laura Siniscalchi, RRA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, education coordinator at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and Susan Callaway-Stradley, CPC, CSS-P, an independent pulmonology coding consultant and educator in North Augusta, S.C., provided advice to help answer You Be the Coder.
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Tracheostomy
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...]
