Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Highlighting how far the scope goes could be your clue.Colonoscopy is not the only lower endoscopic procedure that a physician can consider for her patient. The three other endoscopic procedures of the lower gastrointestinal tract are just as important.Here are 3 ways to approach coding a lower GI scope.Seek Out 46600-46615 for AnoscopyScenario 1: A patient presents to your practice complaining of intermittent bright red blood in the stool. The gastroenterologist believes persistent hemorrhoids are causing the condition. He then performs an anoscopy.Solution: If your physician wants to confirm that a patient's active bleeding is caused by hemorrhoids, he may opt to just examine the anal canal region with an anoscope (46600, Anoscopy; diagnostic, with or without collection of specimen[s] by brushing or washing [separate procedure]). Applicable anoscopy codes are 46600-46615 with the physician often performing most of these anoscopy procedures in the office setting.On the side: Before deciding to [...]