trinalankford
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We have a patient who came in for a 10-year followup colonoscopy (personal history of colon polyps). However, in the MD visit right before the procedure, he made mention of several (MANY) symptoms he had been having, all relating to GI tract.
I am under the impression that at the point he shared his first symptom, this is no longer a "screening" colonoscopy and instead turned diagnostic. It was billed as such (diagnostic), and surprise surprise, the insurance applied to deductible rather than paid at 100% (which it would have a screening).
Our patient is livid. He stated that he would not have had the test done for his symptoms and only mentioned the symptoms because "the doctor asked." I explained that because they were documented, that is what I have to code and thus bill by.
We have actually changed our office policy because of this patient. We now have colonoscopy patients sign a waiver, stating the difference between a diagnostic and a screening colonoscopy, but we are still dealing with the backlash of this one.
Can someone verify, please, that it was coded/billed correctly as a diagnostic rather than screening as a followup of colon polyps?
Thank you.
I am under the impression that at the point he shared his first symptom, this is no longer a "screening" colonoscopy and instead turned diagnostic. It was billed as such (diagnostic), and surprise surprise, the insurance applied to deductible rather than paid at 100% (which it would have a screening).
Our patient is livid. He stated that he would not have had the test done for his symptoms and only mentioned the symptoms because "the doctor asked." I explained that because they were documented, that is what I have to code and thus bill by.
We have actually changed our office policy because of this patient. We now have colonoscopy patients sign a waiver, stating the difference between a diagnostic and a screening colonoscopy, but we are still dealing with the backlash of this one.
Can someone verify, please, that it was coded/billed correctly as a diagnostic rather than screening as a followup of colon polyps?
Thank you.