pre-screening visit for preventive colonoscopy

I have a gastroenterologist who does a basic office visit for the Medicare patients he is going to be doing preventive colonoscopies on. We are currently billing diagnosis code V76.51 but we are being denied. These patients do not have an chief complaint so the visit is really a pre-screening for the procedure.
Are you aware if there is a diagnosis code we can bill for this service that would be covered?

pre-screening visit for preventive colonoscopy

By preventive, do you mean screening? I happened to see this info elsewhere on this website.

For a screening colonoscopy, Medicare will not pay for an E/M service (office visit or consult) prior to the colonoscopy. Some physicians complain about having to meet the patient for the first time on the day of the procedure, but for a screening colonoscopy, Medicare and many third party payers will not pay for the visit prior to the procedure.

A patient with a symptom or complaint who requires a colonoscopy may be billed for the E/M service prior to the colonoscopy.

pre-screening visit for screening colonoscopy

This is not a payable/covered service by Medicare.

http://www.codapedia.com/~article_319_.cfm

http://www.codapedia.com/~article_169_.cfm

http://www.codapedia.com/~article_371_.cfm


Three articles on colonoscopy from the site, the first address this issue.

pre-colonoscopy (screening) visit

I worked for general surgeons who did colonoscopies. Per CMS guidelines, it is not appropriate to charge for an office visit prior to a screening colonoscopy. I think they consider any pre-scope visit bundled into the colonoscopy fee, so you can't bypass this with an ABN. It doesn't seem fair, but that's the way it is. My surgeons, also, were not comfortable meeting the patients for the first time at the colonoscopy appointment. For their own peace of mind and to reduce their liability potential, they saw the patients for an office visit (without additional reimbursement) at least a week prior to the procedure to go over hx, meds, questions and prep instructions.

Pre-screening visit for colonoscopy

Wow, thanks for all the wonderful resources and information!! I had thought this was not a billable service but wanted some confirmation. Thanks again!