Otolaryngology Coding Alert
Reader Question:
MUE of '1' Means You Report 31535 Only Once
Published on Wed Jul 13, 2016
Question: My understanding of 31535 is that I code each time for a biopsy that was done for each anatomical site. For example, if the physician performs a biopsy of the right valleculla and epiglottis, then I should report two codes (31535 and 31535-59). But, if he does two biopsies of the right vallecula (same anatomical site), then I would report 31535 only once. Is this correct?
Wisconsin Subscriber
Answer: No, this is not correct. Code 31535 (Laryngoscopy, direct, operative, with biopsy) has an MUE of 1, so it doesn’t matter how many biopsies your physician completes or how many sites he biopsies. You can only report 31535 once.
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