Advanced Search

Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Blood Pressure and Temperature

Published on Wed Mar 01, 2000

Question: For billing purposes, is it mandatory that you take a blood pressure and temperature? Most argon laser treatments are considered office procedures.

Montgomery Eye Center, Naples, Fla.

Answer: For all surgical procedures, it is customary to do a pulse and a blood pressure. Temperature is not customary. Neither pulse, blood pressure nor temperature are required to bill argon laser treatments performed in an office. However, any surgical procedure performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgical center does require a pre-op pulse and blood pressure to be taken and recorded. Such requirements are not under the purview of Medicare, but are stipulated by the peer review organizations empowered by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

View All