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Otolaryngology Coding Alert

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Nasogastric Tube Insertion

Published on Sun Oct 01, 2000

Question: How do I code for an esophagoscopy with nasogastric tube insertion?

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Answer: There is no code for nasogastric intubations. These tube insertions are included in the appropriate esophagoscopy code, says Lee Eisenberg, MD, an otolaryngologist in Englewood, N.J., and a member of the American Medical Associations CPTs editorial panel and executive committee. If the otolaryngologist is consulted by another physician and performs a nasogastric tube insertion, the appropriate level consultation should be billed.

According to Eisenberg, the CPT panel has discussed a separate code for nasogastric insertion. At the present time, however, it does not appear a code will be developed.
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