Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: Which code should I use for using an interpreter with a Medicare patient? Texas Subscriber Answer: Medicare -- and many other payers -- don't separately reimburse interpretive services. Physicians must comply with the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and all other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination in the delivery of services on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, handicap/disability, or religious beliefs. Impact: Medicare and many private payers typically consider interpretive services -incidental- to the rendered service. The HCPCS Level II code set includes T1013 (Sign language or oral interpretive services, per 15 minutes) that can be used to report these services. State Medicaid services typically use T codes, which are not accepted by Medicare. Additionally, according [...]