tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2006 Issue 10

Reader Question ~ Check With Insurer Before Coding FBR With Blade

Question: The  physician administered topical anesthesia and removed a foreign body with a laryngoscope blade and Magill forceps, which a colleague told me to bill with 31575 (Laryngoscopy, flexible fiberoptic; diagnostic). My concern is that this code usually pertains to a bronchoscope. Should I report 31575 anyway, even though the apparatuses were different from what the code stipulates?Tennessee SubscriberAnswer: Code 31575 does describe a laryngoscopy procedure--but one using a flexible fiberoptic laryngoscope. In the case you describe, the physician used a traditional metal (that is, inflexible) laryngoscope, so the 31575-31578 range does not apply.This is a tough...

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