tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2020 Issue Q1

You Be the Coder: Avoid 51 Modifier

Question: Our surgeon performed a percutaneous breast biopsy, placing a marker and using stereotactic guidance for a lump in the patient’s left breast. During the same operative session, the surgeon performed a percutaneous needle core biopsy of a more superficial lump in the patient’s right breast. Can we separately report two biopsies for full pay, and if so, what code(s) and/or modifiers do we need for these multiple procedures? Texas Subscriber Answer: Yes, you can separately report two procedures, and the correct codes are 19081 (Biopsy, breast, with placement of breast localization device(s) (eg, clip, metallic pellet)...

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