gastroenterology

can anyone tell me what CPT® code you use for "cold snare biopsy?" do you use 45380 or 45385 or other? physician states polyp is not being completely cauterized.

re: gastroenterology

bill the 45380 CPT® code once

re: gastroenterology

thanks nmaguire! can you tell me your rationale or logic for why the 45380 would be more appropriate than 45385 to bill for cold snare biopsy?

re: gastroenterology

CPT® code 45380, Colonoscopy with biopsy, single or multiple, describes the use of forceps to grasp and remove a small piece of tissue without the application of cautery. The procedure note may describe the biopsy using cold biopsy forceps or may not mention the device at all. The biopsy may be from an obvious lesion that is too large to remove, from a suspicious area of abnormal mucosa, or from a lesion or polyp so small that it can be completely removed during the performance of the biopsy. Colonoscopy with removal by snare technique, 45385, should not be used for the removal of a small polyp by "biopsy" or "cold forceps" technique. All lesions or polyps removed by cold biopsy forceps are reported with code 45380.

re: gastroenterology

great - I believe some of my physicians are getting confused due to the word "snare" so they think technique 45385.