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Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Gonioscopy

Published on Mon Dec 24, 2012

Question: How do we code for gonioscopy done in conjunction with evaluation and management (E/M) code 99212? Is it 99212-24 and 92020-59?

Anonymous Michigan Subscriber

Answer: You no longer need to use any modifiers when billing 92020 (gonioscopy [separate procedure]) with eye codes or E/M services codes. Until June 1999, Medicare had bundled this code (as well as 92100 [serial tonometry] and 92060 [sensorimotor examination]) with the eye exam codes (92002, 92004, 92012, 92014). So ophthalmologists were using the E/M codes along with these procedures. Medicare had been on the verge of bundling the E/M services codes with these three procedures as well, but instead decided to let them all be billed separately. Since modifier -59 (distinct procedural service) is used only to break bundles, you would not need it in this case. You would also not need to use modifier -24 (unrelated [...]
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