tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2006 Issue 1

READER QUESTIONS: Removal Includes Biopsy

Question: Can I not report a biopsy (45380) on the same day as removal (for instance, 45384 and 45385)? My payer routinely rejects these claims. Should I append modifier 59? Washington Subscriber Answer: The National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) bundles biopsy (45380, Colonoscopy, flexible, proximal to splenic flexure; with biopsy, single or multiple) with removal by hot biopsy forceps (45384, -with removal of tumor[s], polyp[s] or other lesion[s] by hot biopsy forceps or bipolar cautery) and snare technique (45385, -with removal of tumor[s], polyp[s] or other lesion[s] by snare technique).In addition, NCCI bundles other biopsies (including 43202, 43239...

To read the full article, sign in and subscribe to tci General Surgery Coding Alert.


Leverage vital, to-the-point monthly guidance to boost your reporting accuracy and your coding know-how. We make it convenient for your team to stay informed, compliant, and profitable with a subscription to TCI’s General Surgery Coding Alert.

  • Current newsletters added each month
  • Fully searchable archives - over 2100 articles
  • ALL years/issues back to 1999 organized by year and issue
  • Codes mentioned in articles are linked to Code Information pages
  • Code Information pages link back to related articles
Access to this feature is available in the following products:
  • tci General Surgery Coding Alert +Archives

demo
request yours today
 subscribe
start today
 newsletter
free subscription

Thank you for choosing Find-A-Code, please Sign In to remove ads.