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Otolaryngology Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

You Can't Append 50 to This Laryngoscopy Code

Published on Sun Mar 01, 2009

Question: Can you bill 31541 bilaterally? I had heard awhile back that Medicare allows it; however, all the other insurances are denying it. Kansas Subscriber Answer: No, you may not append modifier 50 (Bilateral procedure) to 31541 (Laryngoscopy, direct,operative, with excision of tumor and/or stripping of vocal cords or epiglottis; with operating microscope or telescope). The Medicare fee schedule specifies no on bilateral for this procedure.
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