Wiki Myringotomy

[Verna]

Our hospital has a new surgeon, an ENT. I've never coded for an ENT before, so I'm hoping some of you can guide me. Our doctor recently performed surgery on a 14 year old (general anesthesia) and writes:
Left myringotomy and tube insertion; right myringotomy with no tube insertion.
I'm just not sure how to code one with tube and one without tube. I've gone back and forth so much, I've confused myself!
Thanks,
Verna

 

[savgrr]

I believe you would code it as 69436 LT and 69421 RT.

Hope that helps!

 

[Verna]

It helps a great deal, thank you! That's what I had written down, but started to second guess myself. Your kindness is appreciated.

 

[maebelle@gmail.com]

Be sure to add modifier 59 to code 69421 to indicate that procedure was done on opposite ear since this code is typically inclusive to code 69436.

 

[savgrr]

Wouldn't the RT and LT negate the need for the 59 modifier though?

 

[maebelle@gmail.com]

You would think so but most insurances will deny it without the modifier 59.