pre- op colonoscopy visit

How do you properly bill a commercial pre-op colonoscopy office visit? (questioning both screening and diagnostic)

re: pre- op colonoscopy visit

You cannot bill a pre-op visit for a screening colonoscopy. It is included in the reimbursement for the colon. For a diagnostic you would just bill the appropiate level for a new or established patient with whatever the symptom is.

re: pre- op colonoscopy visit

So if our surgeon is completing the H & P for the colonoscopy can this be billed as a prevenitive service to commercial insurance? As a specialist do we recommend a referal in which the PCP does the H & P for the colonoscopy requiring no visit from the surgeon before hand?

re: pre- op colonoscopy visit

No, surgeon cannot bill a preventive exam. Yes the PCP should do the pre-work up.

re: pre- op colonoscopy visit

Medicare considers that the fee for the screening colonoscopy includes any pre-op work. F or a diagnostic colonoscopy, (a patient presents with symptoms) you can bill for an E/M service.

http://www.codapedia.com/article_319_E-M-service-prior-to-a-screening-colonoscopy.cfm

And, see the other article on colonoscopy

http://www.codapedia.com/article_169_Colonoscopy.cfm

And, the one on incomplete colonoscopy

http://www.codapedia.com/article_371_What-is-an-Incomplete-Colonoscopy.cfm

Some commercials will pay for the E/M prior to screening.

re: pre- op colonoscopy visit

Thank you for the information

re: pre- op colonoscopy visit

Can you give me a reference to this statement. We are getting conflicting information on this thru AAPC Medical coding and Billing.

re: pre- op colonoscopy visit

Which statement?

re: pre- op colonoscopy visit

That a surgeon cannot bill a preventative exam.

re: pre- op colonoscopy visit

There are two citations/references attached to the Codapedia article.