Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Don't let bundling and diagnosis quirks ambush your leiomyoma claims.If you're reporting your pathologists' fibroid exams, you need to know a thing or two (or three) about CPT® and ICD-9 roadblocks and opportunities. To make your job easier, our experts will help you zero in on proper code choices before the next uterine leiomyoma case lands on your desk.Distinguish With/Without UterusWhen your pathologist examines uterine fibroids, the specimen will most often be from a hysterectomy procedure. That's because hysterectomy is the most common surgical treatment when fibroids are causing problems such as abdominal pain or heavy bleeding, according to Melanie Witt, RN, COBGC, MA, an independent coding consultant in Guadalupita, N.M. "Bleeding recurrence is common if the physician doesn't remove the uterus," she says.Not always: Sometimes, however, such as the case of a younger woman who still wants to have children, the physician will remove only the fibroids (myomectomy) and [...]