jessicamariposa
New
We see patients for a preliminary office visit before colonoscopies. I am trying to get my doctor to stop listing other diagnosis codes with V76.51 but he doesn't understand why i am asking him to do this. I have given him exerpts from books post from this website and he still does not understand why you can not list diagnosis codes such as 569.3 with V76.51 (this is for the office visit only - i realize that you can list those types of codes once the procedure has been performed). I have not found anything anywhere that actually states what codes may be used in conjunction with V76.51 in order for the office visit to be a true screening visit. He also lists constipation and diverticulosis at times with V76.51. I would assume that diverticulosis would be ok to list (because it is usually used almost like a hx of code) but i am not sure about constipation. The literal defenition of V76.51 is absence of symptoms but when i mention other codes he always says "that is not an idication for colonoscopy so it is ok to bill them together". What ends up happening to the patient though, when this is the case, is the insurance company ends up choosing which ever code would be to their benefit and the patient is the one who ends up paying in the end. Any help or comments on this would be appreciated. THANKS!
diagnosis codes, diagnosis coding