Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Here's why you might never see 'bougie' in the notes for a 43450 claim. When the gastroenterologist performs a bougie dilation of a patient's esophagus to ease an esophageal stricture, be on the lookout for modifier missteps you could make. Put a modifier where you don't need one, and you could lose out on deserved reimbursement. Use this FAQ to hammer down the coding facts and nail each bougie encounter. How Can I Identify a Bougie Dilation Service? When the gastroenterologist performs bougie dilation for one of his patients, you'll code the service with 43450 (Dilation of esophagus, by unguided sound or bougie, single or multiple passes), confirms Catherine du Toit, CPC, PCS, a coder in Doylestown, Pa. Potential problem: "Bougie" is a generic term for flexible esophageal dilators that are available in varying sizes. You might not see the term right in the operative notes, so you'll have to [...]