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Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Check ICD-9 Code for 97802 Bill to Medicare

Published on Fri Jun 25, 2004

Question: How should we code for a registered dietitian who performs a consultation and assessment? We're considering 97802 and/or S9470. Hawaii Subscriber Answer: You may find some private insurers pay for 97802 (Medical nutrition therapy; initial assessment and intervention, individual, face-to-face with the patient, each 15 minutes) and/or S9470 (Nutritional counseling, dietitian visit). But Medicare usually covers medical nutrition therapy (MNT) services only for specific diagnoses, such as diabetes (250.xx) or end-stage renal disease (585), following kidney transplant. Also, a registered dietitian or nutritional professional must perform the services.

If the patient is on Medicare, be sure to obtain an advance beneficiary notice from your patient. And remember: The American College of Radiology's guidelines prohibit billing for MNT when the patients are undergoing radiation therapy treatment and are under the management of a radiation oncologist.
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