Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Question: A patient has to undergo ultrasonic guidance to remove an IUD. What would the correct CPT^® code be for the ultrasound?

New York Subscriber

Answer: The code for the guidance would be 76998 (Ultrasonic guidance, intraoperative). In this case, you would report this with the code for IUD removal 58301 (Removal of intrauterine device [IUD]). But note that in reporting 76998, a written report describing what was done and what was seen must be prepared by the physician. A statement such as "IUD removed with ultrasound guidance" would not suffice in reporting this code.