Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Medicare slaps bundled status on 95992, denies reimbursement for new code. In January, you finally got a code to describe the Epley maneuver, a simple but time-consuming treatment for a type of dizziness. But now youre having even more trouble getting paid for the work. The Epley maneuver treats a form of vertigo (386.11, Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) that is caused by small calcium carbonate stones that have moved from the vestibule of the inner ear into the semicircular canals, where your sense of balance rests. The stones stimulate nerves and cause a spinning sensation, nausea, and unsteadiness. In the Epley, the patients head is maneuvered so the calcium crystals roll out of the sensing tube and into another inner chamber of the ear, from which the body can absorb them. The way it was: For years, CPT didnt have a dedicated code for the procedure, but at least some [...]