Forum - Questions & Answers

May 27th, 2010 - coder007 5 

Gastroenterology coding -- colonoscopy codes -- please help

Here is the OP notes:

"The olympus scope was passed in the transverse colon. Excellent prep. The lesion itself was at approximately 9cm in the rectosigmoid or upper one third of the rectum really. With the rotatable snare, the base was encircled, and the polyp removed, and then another small piece that was still on the wall was removed, thereby, removing the entire lesion. This was retrieved, put in a pathology battle. The area was then re-examined. Because there was a diagnosis of dysplasia, it was elected to use the APC with 360 head post polypectomy setting which was done, and the entire area was APC'd under narrow band light. This was removed, the Argon removed, andthen a tattoo with a spot material was used and photgraphs taken."

I would like to code 45381 (for tattoo with a spot material), 45383 (for APC usage) and 45385 - 59 (for snare). Is this correct? Or shall I use 45382 for APC usage, and not 45383? Please help me to find out the codes.

May 27th, 2010 - nmaguire   2,606 

Gi

CPT Code 45381 should be reported as an added service to any other therapeutic procedure performed at the same time. Code 45381 is not used to report injections to control bleeding.
CPT Code 45383 can be reported for the ablation of a tumor, polyp or other lesion including arteriovenous malformations using a number of different devices including heater probe, bipolar cautery probe, or argon laser, argon plasma coagulators (APC).
Code 45385, Colonoscopy, flexible, proximal to the splenic flexure; with removal of tumor(s), polyp(s), or other lesion(s) by snare technique, is the most often used technique for performing a polypectomy during a colonoscopy. When the snare cautery technique is used, a wire loop is heated and then placed around the desired piece of tissue or polyp to shave off the polyp or lesion.
Bleeding that starts as a result of an intervention performed during the colonoscopy, such as a polypectomy or biopsy, and is controlled by any method is considered part of the initial therapeutic procedure and should not be reported separately with codes 45382.

May 27th, 2010 - nmaguire   2,606 

Gi

Another thought, code 45385 is bundled into code 45383 (CCI edit). Why, because only one technique is billed for each lesion. Check your procedure note.

May 28th, 2010 - coder007 5 

Gastroenterology coding -- colonoscopy codes -- please help

Thanks, Nmaguire... So, just to be clear completely, are you recommending to use those 3 codes only as I mentioned in my question: 45381, 45383, 45385 - 59 ? Two separate lesions were removed, one by snare, and another by APC, hence 59 mod. used. And injection used for spot marking after polypectomy, hence 45381.

May 28th, 2010 - nmaguire   2,606 

different techniques

Yes, I am, if documentation supports 2 separate lesions

Jun 1st, 2010 - coder007 5 

GI coding

thanks a lot, NMaguire :)



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