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Otolaryngology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Vestibular Function Test

Published on Wed Mar 01, 2000

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

Question: The descriptor for CPT code 92543 says, constitutes four tests. Do we bill for six services if we do ice water?

Sheila Johnston
Brookwood ENT, Birmingham, Ala.

Answer: Code 92543 (Answer: Code 92543 (caloric vestibular test, each irrigation [binaural, bithermal stimulation constitutes four tests], with recording) is a caloric vestibular test commonly billed as part of an electronystagmography (ENG) exam. When coding for this caloric test, otolaryngologists should pay special attention to the units box.

The standard exam described in the CPT code lists warm and cold water, both ears. Therefore, a 4 should be place in the units box next to the code on the HCFA 1500 claim form. When the patient also is tested with ice water in both ears, six tests in total are performed. Therefore, the otolaryngologist should place a 6 in the units box. (For more information on vestibular function tests, see the article ENG Now Medicares Only Paid Vestibular Function Test on page 36 of the November 1999 Otolaryngology Coding Alert.)


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