tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2006 Issue 5

Reader Questions: Screening-vs.-Diagnostic Rules Haven't Changed

Question: I read that Medicare has just changed its policy regarding screening vs. diagnostic colonoscopy, and that if the physician finds and removes a polyp during a screening, I should still report the screening diagnosis as primary. Is this true?New York Subscriber Answer: CMS officials caused some confusion last month by stating that you should still bill for a screening colonoscopy even after finding a polyp. But this was a mistake.Clarification: Now CMS officials have set the record straight. -The policy is that if you find a polyp and remove it, you change to the diagnostic code...

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