REader Question:
Report Reintubation With 31500
Published on Thu May 13, 2004
Question: Our anesthesiologist performed an emergency intubation one day, then had to exchange it the next day because the ETT (endotracheal tube) cuff was leaking. How should I code the second day's service?
New York Subscriber Answer: Report the second day's service the same as the first -- with CPT 31500 (Intubation, endotracheal, emergency procedure). Even though the physician repeated the service, do not append modifier -59 (Distinct procedural service) because he inserted the tubes on different days.