Should Cell Washing Be Bundled With Other Bronchoscopy Procedures?

Posted on 15. Feb, 2012 by dchandhok.

Question: Our pulmonologist recently performed a resection procedure for an endobronchial tumor using electrocautery. He also had to undertake about an hour of critical care in addition to a basic cell washing procedure during the bronchoscopy. Please let me know if the cell washing can be reported along with the resection and the other codes that I need to report for the procedures conducted? (more…)

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410.31 or 410.32 for Follow-Up?

Posted on 03. Feb, 2012 by dchandhok.

Question: The patient is seen in the hospital for a 410.31, and then is discharged. The patient is scheduled to be seen in the office for a follow-up visit. For this follow-up visit, which is less than 8 weeks from the myocardial infarction, is it appropriate to use the fifth digit of “2″ on the MI (410.32), or would you still use 410.31? (more…)

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How Should I Report ‘Frozen Shoulder’?

Posted on 21. Jan, 2012 by dchandhok.

Question: Our anesthesiologist participated in a procedure for the arthroscopic release of adhesions to a patient’s shoulder that included manipulation. What do I need to include to report this correctly? (more…)

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How Many ‘Vitals’ Total 1 Exam Bullet?

Posted on 06. Jan, 2012 by dchandhok.

Question: Can you please explain how taking the vital signs contributes to determining the E/M service’s physical exam?

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Does 93452 Require Ventriculography?

Posted on 23. Dec, 2011 by dchandhok.

Question: The physician performed an LHC with no left ventriculography. How should I code this?

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041.4 Requires a Fifth Digit Now

Posted on 01. Dec, 2011 by dchandhok.

Question: Has there been a change to 041.4? We keep getting denials and I can’t figure out why. (more…)

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Reporting Pre-Op Exam

Posted on 17. Nov, 2011 by rpandit.

Question: The local orthopedist requires clearance before scheduling patients for total knee replacement surgery, so we see a lot of Medicare patients for their pre-surgical exams. What is the best way to bill these visits? (more…)

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Toenail Excisions and Cauterizations

Posted on 07. Nov, 2011 by rpandit.

Question: A patient presents for a follow-up of an ingrown toenail. The physician finds that the patient now has two ingrown toenails — one on each foot. The physician removes both from each toe and also did a silver nitrate cauterization. Should I report the following codes: 99212, 11750, 11750-50, 17250? (more…)

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“Seen and Agreed” Note Will Earn Your FP Denials

Posted on 03. Nov, 2011 by rpandit.

Question: Our family physician works with residents each year. It’s very time consuming, but he does review their documentation and indicates whether he agrees with their findings. He doesn’t use a rubber stamp — he actually writes, “Seen and agreed” on the chart before he signs it. A consultant told us during an audit that documenting this way is unacceptable. Can you explain the problem? (more…)

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Hot Biopsy Technique Leads You To 45384

Posted on 24. Oct, 2011 by rpandit.

Question: Our GI saw a patient for endoscopic biopsy. The patient’s mucosa was normal except for internal hemorrhoids and a raised sessile diminutive polyp in the sigmoid colon that was ablated through hot biopsy forceps. What CPT describes this procedure?

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