General Surgery Coding Alert
Control of Bleeding With Surgical Procedures
Florida Subscriber
Answer: Here's a rule of thumb when trying to determine whether you can separately report your surgeon's measures to control bleeding: If the procedure causes the bleeding, then managing the bleeding is included in the procedure fee.
For example, the surgeon must inject epinephrine to control bleeding that starts during a polyp removal by snare technique. The control of bleeding is included in the code for the tumor removal, 45385 (Colonoscopy, flexible, proximal to splenic flexure; with removal of tumor[s], polyp[s], or other lesion[s] by snare technique).
According to Principles of CPT Coding, the codes for endoscopic control of bleeding by any method "are intended to be used when treatment is required to control bleeding that occurs spontaneously, or as a result of traumatic injury (noniatrogenic), and not as a result of another type of operative intervention."
General Surgery Coding Alert
- Have Skin Grafts Got You Guessing?
Use our 4-step method to select the right code What's your method for choosing among [...] - You Be the Coder:
Control of Bleeding With Surgical Procedures
Question: When can we report the control of bleeding separately, such as during colonoscopy?
Florida Subscriber [...] - Avoid OIG Scrutiny
Shore up diagnostic test, modifier -59 claims in 2004 What could be more frustrating than [...] - Correction:
Full- Versus Split-Thickness Graft
An example in the December 2003 General Surgery Coding Alert ("Are You Reporting 16000-16003 for [...] - Get the Scoop on CPT's New Catheter/Line Placement Codes
General surgery coders, rejoice: For 2004, CPT completely revamps the catheter and line placement access [...] - No Stars to Guide You in 2004? Here's What to Do
You may need to change the way you report starred procedures to private payers beginning [...] - Less Biopsy Confusion in 2004
Bill separately only if it's a different lesion or different site For 2004, CPT has [...] - News You Can Use:
CMS Makes It Easier (and Cheaper) to Get NCCI
Tired of shelling out hundreds of dollars a year to stay current on the National [...] - Reader Question:
Observe Fascial Layer for Superficial Versus Deep
Question: How can I distinguish between superficial (38500) and deep (38525) lymph node biopsy?
Virginia Subscriber [...] - Reader Question:
Choose 76000 for Catheter Placement
Question: What is the correct fluoroscopy code for catheter placement - 76000 or 76003?
Illinois [...] - Reader Question:
Reason for Stopping Differentiates -52 and -53
Question: If one of our surgeons stops in the middle of diagnostic testing, or even [...]
