Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Find Out What to Code for Laparoscopy With IUD Retrieval

Question: Via the laparoscope, the ob-gyn located the intrauterine device (IUD) in the left upper abdominal quadrant entangled in the omentum. With laparoscopic visualization pictures were taken of the location of the IUD. The ob-gyn removed the IUD using a grasper. Would the correct coding be 49320 and 58301? I am unsure about this. Thanks in advance for your help.

California Subscriber

Answer: No, you should bill 49329 (Unlisted laparoscopy procedure, abdomen, peritoneum and omentum), as this is an unlisted procedure and would include all the work the ob-gyn performed. For comparison, you can tell the payer 49402 (Removal of peritoneal foreign body from peritoneal cavity) or the combination of 49320 (Laparoscopy, abdomen, peritoneum, and omentum, diagnostic, with or without collection of specimen(s) by brushing or washing (separate procedure)) and 58301 (Removal of intrauterine device (IUD)).