Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: An otolaryngologist documented a procedure as: left endoscopic maxillary antrostomy with biopsy, sinus tissue contents. left maxillary sinusoscopy.On the superbill, the surgeon coded 31256 and wrote as an extra procedure "maxillary sinusoscopy." I think the otolaryngologist is correct not to bill 31267 because he did not remove tissue. But how should I code the sinusoscopy? Georgia SubscriberAnswer: The otolaryngologist actually does deserve credit for 31267 (Nasal/sinus endoscopy, surgical, with maxillary antrostomy; with removal of tissue from maxillary sinus). Because the surgeon takes a biopsy of the maxillary sinus and a biopsy involves taking tissue, the procedure qualifies as 31267. Code 31267 does not require complete tissue removal, just tissue removal.When the otolaryngologist performs a maxillary antrostomy and doesn't remove any tissue, such as a biopsy or polyp, you should instead assign 31256 (Nasal/sinus endoscopy, surgical, with maxillary antrostomy).On the other hand, you should not code the sinusoscopy. Surgical endoscopy [...]