Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Update Your Ultrasound Guidance for IUD Removal

Question: When doing an ultrasound guidance “in the office” for an IUD removal, is it proper to use 76882 or 76998? I’m hesitant to use 76998 because it describes “intraoperative.” Please advise. Thank you.

Wisconsin Subscriber

Answer: Code 76882 (Ultrasound, limited, joint or other nonvascular extremity structure(s) (eg, joint space, peri-articular tendon(s), muscle(s), nerve(s), other soft-tissue structure(s), or soft- tissue mass(es), real-time with image documentation) has nothing to do with ultrasound guidance. Perhaps you meant instead 76942 (Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement [eg, biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device], imaging supervision and interpretation)?

But the correct and only code for ultrasound guidance when removing or inserting an IUD would be 76998 (Ultrasonic guidance, intraoperative), especially as you are using it with a “surgical” code 58301 (Removal of intrauterine device [IUD]).

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