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Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspiration

Published on Mon Apr 01, 2002

Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: Medicare denied our first claim using the new bone marrow codes. We billed 99211 (Office or other outpatient visit), 38221 and 38220 with modifier -51 (Multiple procedures) attached. The office visit was denied and the carrier said no E/M codes are allowed on the same day as surgery. Code 38220-51 was denied and the carrier said 38220 should be bundled with 38221. Can these three codes be billed separately?

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