Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: If the radiation oncologist attends a uterine tandem surgery placement so that he can explain the procedure to another physician who actually performs it, may I report a code for the radiation oncologist?

Arkansas Subscriber

Answer: Unless the radiation oncologist performs the placement himself, and you see a complete operative note documenting this surgical service, you should not report the service.

In the case you describe, the other physician -- the one who performed the procedure -- will report 57155 (Insertion of uterine tandems and/or vaginal ovoids for clinical brachytherapy).

Consult? If you have crystal-clear documentation of an intraoperative consult (not one physician teaching another), you may consider reporting 99499 (Unlisted evaluation and management service).