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Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Reach for Unlisted Code for Tattooing During Enteroscopy

Published on Tue Oct 09, 2012

Question: Our gastroenterologist recently performed a double balloon enteroscopy. During the procedure, he used India ink to perform tattooing at the most distal site of the ileum (different site). What codes should I use to report the procedures that my gastroenterologist performed?New Jersey SubscriberAnswer: The first thing that you need to be aware of when you are reporting an enteroscopy procedure that your gastroenterologist performed is to know that there is no separate CPT® codes for the different enteroscopy procedures namely, single balloon enteroscopy, double balloon enteroscopy and spiral enteroscopy.The next thing that you need to be checking for is to see the approach that your gastroenterologist used for performing the procedure. The usual approach is through the mouth and has specific CPT® codes for the procedure. If your gastroenterologist used an approach through the rectum, you do not have specific CPT® codes and you will have to reach out [...]
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