Primary Care Coding Alert

Question:What is the correct way to code for Mantoux administration and follow-up? North Dakota Subscriber Answer:When a patient comes to your office for Mantoux administration (also known as a tuberculosis skin test), you'll report 86580 (Skin test; tuberculosis, intradermal). If an E/M service is provided in conjunction with the skin test administration, you may also report the appropriate E/M code, such as 99211 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, that may not require the presence of a physician. Usually, the presenting problem[s]are minimal. Typically, 5 minutes are spent performing or supervising these services.) Many offices do not charge for the follow-up check three days later. However, it is permissible, from a CPT perspective to report this follow-up with 99211, if reading the tuberculin test is the primary purpose of the office visit. As noted in Appendix C of CPT, one of the [...]