Gastroenterology Coding Alert

The Reader Question "Call on Modifier for Hospital G Tube Fix," in vol. 11, no. 9 of Gastroenterology Coding Alert contained an inaccuracy. The coding advice was to append modifier 26 (Professional component) to 49450 (Replacement of gastrostomy or cecostomy [or other colonic] tube, percutaneous, under fluoroscopic guidance including contrast injection[s]; image documentation and report]) to show that the physician was only coding for her services, not the hospital equipment. There is, however, no modifier 26/TC (Technical component) split for 49450, so modifier 26 would be unnecessary.

Also, the article "Get Used to Coding Consult Services Differently in 2010," (vol. 11, no. 13) reported that coders should use modifier AL in 2010 to denote the physician of record. The article should have read modifier AI (Physician of record).