Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Also: Watch for these new eyelid reconstruction Correct Coding Initiative edits. If your ophthalmic surgeon performs eyelid repairs and reconstructions, heads up. The Correct Coding Initiative wants to make sure you're paying attention to CPT® definitions -- and if you're not, you could find yourself with claims denials on your hands. CCI released version 18.0, effective Jan. 1, revealing 15,530 new active pairs and 6,197 code pair terminations, according to Frank D. Cohen, MPA, MBB, senior analyst with Frank Cohen Group, LLC. Of special concern to ophthalmology coders are the bundles affecting eyelid excision and repair codes 67961 (Excision and repair of eyelid, involving lid margin, tarsus, conjunctiva, canthus, or full thickness, may include preparation for skin graft or pedicle flap with adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement; up to one-fourth of lid margin) and 67966 (... over one-fourth of lid margin). According to CCI, these codes are now bundled with 15004 [...]