Advanced Search

Primary Care Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Incidental Services

Published on Fri Dec 01, 2000

Question: One of our doctors wants to know how to report services if a patient is seen for a specific problem and requests an incidental breast exam or Pap smear. There are no reasons for the exam, other than that the patient hasnt had one in a while. Should we use a preventive medicine code? Or is there a better way to code this?

Jean Sodowski
Seattle

Answer: Generally speaking, preventive codes (99381-99387, new patient or 99391-99397, established patient) entail more than a breast and Pap exam. They require a thorough assessment of the patients health. If no x-rays or labs were done during this visit, the practice would simply assign the evaluation and management code that reflects the level of service provided.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Primary Care Coding Alert

View All