Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Make certain the documentation supports medical necessity. Times are tough, and you shouldn't leave any hard earned dollars on the table. If your otolaryngologist injects Botox directly into a patient's neck, you should examine whether you can code the EMG guidance and the supply. Report EMG With 95867-95868You should check your otolaryngologist's percutaneous injection electromyography (EMG) notes. If he documents that the procedure required EMG guidance, you should report one of two codes:95867 - Needle electromyography; cranial nerve supplied muscle[s], unilateral95868 - ... cranial nerve supplied muscles, bilateral."Bill 95867 for unilateral EMG, and 95868 for bilateral EMG," says Barbara Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CENTC, CPCH, CPC-P, CPC-I, CHCC, president of CRN Healthcare Solutions, a consulting firm in Tinton Falls, N.J.Additional step: "Append modifier 26 (Professional component) to 95867 or 95868 if you do not own the equipment and your otolaryngologist is doing only the interpretation and supervision," Cobuzzi says. Reimbursement hurdle: [...]