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Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Coding Clarification:

Sigmoidoscopy Code and EGD

Published on Wed Sep 08, 2004

In the August 2004 issue of Gastroenterology Coding Alert, the article "Must-Know Tips for Teaching Modifiers" on page 61 reads: "If, for example, the gastroenterologist spends an inordinate amount of time removing polyps during an EGD, don't just report 45333 (Sigmoidoscopy, flexible; with removal of tumor[s], polyp[s], or other lesion[s] by hot biopsy forceps or bipolar cautery) and append modifier -22; you should also make sure there is documentation that specifies exactly how long the procedure took, and how much extra work was involved."
 
The text should have read: "If, for example, the gastroenterologist spends an inordinate amount of time removing polyps during a sigmoidoscopy, don't just report 45333 (Sigmoidoscopy, flexible; with removal of tumor[s], polyp[s], or other lesion[s] by hot biopsy forceps or bipolar cautery) and append modifier -22; you should also make sure there is documentation that specifies exactly how long the procedure took, and how much extra work was involved."
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