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Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Lacrimal Microtube Supply Billing

Published on Mon Feb 01, 1999

Question: If a lacrimal microtube is placed in the office, how should we bill for the tube itself?

Tim McDevitt, MD
Honolulu, HI

Answer: The CPT code for placing a lacrimal microtube (68750) includes the cost of the tube, which connects the lacrimal system to the nasal mucosa. You wont get paid for the tube any more than you would get paid for the sutures used to affix the tube. The fact that the tube costs quite a bit more than the sutures doesnt seem to bother payers.
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