tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2005 Issue 7

Reader Questions: If Surgeon Causes Bleeding, He Must Stop It for Free

Question: Our surgeon removed three polyps using hot biopsy forceps during a proctosigmoidoscopy. During the procedure, the patient began bleeding. The surgeon stopped the bleeding using a plasma coagulator. Can I report both procedures?Missouri Subscriber Answer: Before deciding on one or two proctosigmoidoscopy codes, you must ask yourself: "Did the surgeon cause the bleeding?"Check out both answers to that question:If you answered "yes": If the surgeon caused the bleeding during the polyp removal (and it sounds as if your surgeon may have), you cannot report both proctosigmoidoscopies. On your claim, report only 45315 (Proctosigmoidoscopy, rigid; with removal...

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