Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Question: My provider is billing an EGD, and in his op report he states that he obtained photo documentation.Is this something we can bill for? Oklahoma Subscriber Answer: No. Just bill the appropriate EGD procedure,for instance 43235 (Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy including esophagus, stomach, and either the duodenum and/or jejunum as appropriate; diagnostic, with or without collection of specimen[s] by brushing or washing [separate procedure]). Any pictures your physician took are just part of the diagnostic procedure. The same is true with many supplies and services considered integral to a surgical procedure: • cleansing, shaving, and prepping of skin • draping of patient, positioning of patient • insertion of intravenous access for medication • sedative administration by the physician performing the procedure • local, topical or regional anesthetic administered by the physician performing the procedure • surgical approach, including identification of anatomical landmarks, incision, evaluation of the surgical field, lysis of [...]