Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Check new codes for fecal bacteriotherapy and capsule endoscopy too.Starting Jan.1, you can benefit from four new codes covering optical endomicroscopy, fecal bacteriotherapy and pressure measurement using capsule endoscopy, eliminating challenges you've had capturing reimbursement for services that you had to previously report using unlisted codes.Use 43206 and 43252 for Optical EndomicroscopyA technological advance that your gastroenterologist might have started using is optical endomicroscopy to take high resolution images within optically thick tissue. "Examination of the gastrointestinal tract with this modality has allowed a new approach for the early detection of cancer and dysplasia," says Michael Weinstein, MD, Gastroenterologist at Capital Digestive Care in Washington, D.C., and former representative of the AMA's CPT® Advisory Panel.Previously, you would have used an unlisted code when your gastroenterologist performed optical endomicroscopy, but thanks to CPT® 2013, you'll have codes to report the service. If your gastroenterologist uses optical endomicroscopy for the esophagus, you [...]