Reader Question:
Personal Use of Triple-Mix
Published on Wed May 01, 2002
Question: How should we handle coding when a patient purchases Triple-Mix for self-administration? Indiana Subscriber Answer: Code an E/M service (office visit, 99201-99215; consultation, 99251-99263) based on time when the urologist instructs and trains the patient in proper injection of the corpora cavernosa. Also code 54235 for the one-time injection (the patient is covered for only one injection per lifetime). Further follow-up should be coded with an E/M code. Because the patient purchased the Triple-Mix, you cannot charge for it. (For more on 54235, see impotence article on page 33.)