AAPC - credentialing the business side of medicine

jamaya · #1 07-17-2012, 03:49 PM

When a patient comes in and has an u/s guided Thoracentesis when a tube is placed while performing, can you bill separately for the chest tube placement with modifier 59 or not?

Jim Pawloski · #2 07-17-2012, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamaya

When a patient comes in and has an u/s guided Thoracentesis when a tube is placed while performing, can you bill separately for the chest tube placement with modifier 59 or not?

If the tube is removed after, you should bill 32422. If the chest tube is for pnemothorax, then I would bill with the modifier-59.
HTH,
Jim Pawloski, CIRCC, R.T.(R)(CV)