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Otolaryngology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Coding Sinus X-rays

Published on Thu Jun 01, 2000

Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.


Question: I have been getting denials when billing sinus x-rays to Medicare using CPT codes 70220 or 70210. What is the correct way to bill Medicare for this service?





Answer: The correct codes for sinus x-rays are 70220 and 70210, says Andrea Lamb, CPC, a coding and reimbursement specialist in Jane Lew, W.V. It may be that your diagnosis does not support reimbursement for Medicare.

The following diagnosis codes should be paid:
461.0 Acute maxillary sinusitis
461.1 Acute frontal sinusitis
461.2 Acute ethmoidal sinusitis
461.3 Acute sphenoidal sinusitis
461.8 Other acute sinusitis
461.9 Unspecified acute sinusitis
473.0 Chronic maxillary sinusitis
473.1 Chronic frontal sinusitis
473.2 Chronic ethmoidal sinusitis
473.3 Chronic sphenoidal sinusitis
473.8 Other chronic sinusitis
473.9 Unspecified chronic sinusitis
784.0 Headache (facial pain)
Note: Check with your local Medicare carrier for their list of appropriate and payable ICD-9 codes.
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