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Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Take Control of Multiple Techniques For Polyp Removals

Published on Tue Jun 12, 2012

Question: Our gastroenterologist recently removed three polyps in the cecum from a patient. He removed two of the polyps by biopsy forceps and then used an Argon probe to ablate the rest of the polyps. The third polyp was removed using snare polypectomy followed by the use of the Argon probe for ablation. How do I report this procedure that my gastroenterologist performed?Wisconsin SubscriberAnswer: When many polyps are removed during a colonoscopy procedure using the same method, then only one unit of the code that corresponds to the method used is reported for the procedure that your gastroenterologist performed. This is so because the descriptors for all the methods of removal including snare technique (45385), biopsy (45380), hot biopsy forceps (45384), or bipolar cautery forceps (45384) all represent a single code for removal of a single or multiple polyps, tumors or any other lesions.However, if the number of polyps or [...]
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