Advanced Search

Gastroenterology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Can You Remove All Doubt About This Stent Removal?

Published on Mon Mar 23, 2009

Question: My physician gave me charges for an EGD with foreign-body removal connected to diagnosis of 936. He also performed a gastric biopsy with cold forceps for acute gastritis without obstruction. In the op note, he states that the foreign body is a plastic biliary stent that was properly positioned in the papilla and that he removed it with a snare. He wants me to use 43247 for the procedure. My dispute is that he went into the papilla to remove the stent, which I think 43269 better describes. If he had removed the stent from the stomach or any other area I would agree with 43247. What codes are appropriate for this case? Utah Subscriber Answer: Just code for the EGD with biopsy (43239,Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy including esophagus,stomach, and either the duodenum and/or jejunum a appropriate; with biopsy, single or multiple). To bill ERCP with removal (43269, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Gastroenterology Coding Alert

View All