tci Outpatient Facility Coding Alert - 2016 Issue 9

You Be the Coder: Be Careful With Coding Incomplete Colonoscopies

Question: Our provider started the procedure with an intention of performing total colonoscopy. However, during the procedure, he could not advance the colonoscope to the cecum and had to discontinue the procedure. How do we code for this scenario? Mississippi Subscriber Answer: The appropriate code choice for this scenario will be based on the type of procedure being performed, whether it was therapeutic or diagnostic. In the past you could report a full procedure code if the colonoscope passed the splenic flexure; however, 2016 onwards, the definition of a complete colonoscopy must include reaching the cecum unless it is...

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