Primary Care Coding Alert

Question: A family physician performs a significant, separately identifiable E/M service for a child with croup. Based on the history, examination and medical decision-making, he orders a nurse to give the patient a Decadron injection. Should I append modifier 25 to the office visit code?


Ohio Subscriber

Answer: Yes. On claims after Jan. 1, you should attach modifier 25 (Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service) to the office visit code (such as 99213, Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient -).

CPT 2006 clarifies that you need modifier 25 when a physician performs a significant, separately identifiable E/M service in addition to new injection administration code 90772 (Therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic injection [specify substance or drug]; subcutaneous or intramuscular).

You should also report the Decadron supply. For Decadron phosphate, use J1100 (Injection, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, 1 mg). Code Decadron LA with  J1094 (Injection, dexamethasone acetate, 1 mg).

Although some payers previously required modifier 25 on 99201-99215 with deleted code 90782 (Therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic injection [specify material injected]; subcutaneous or intramuscular), CPT 2005 did not contain this requirement.

The -Hydration, Therapeutic, Prophylactic, and Diagnostic Injections and Infusions (Excludes Chemotherapy)- introductory notes now make this directive clear. -If a significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service is performed, the appropriate E/M service code should be reported using modifier 25 in addition to 90760-90779. For same-day E/M service a different diagnosis is not required,- CPT 2006 states.

Tip: If you-re experiencing insurer E/M service-administration bundles, use modifier 25 on 2006 claims and include CPT's instructions in your appeal letter. The insurance company, however, may include the edit as part of its policy. In this case, the added language probably won't affect payment.

Answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions reviewed by Marcella Bucknam, CPC, CCS, CPC-H, CCS-P, HIM program coordinator at Clarkson College in Omaha, Neb.; Daniel S. Fick, MD, director of risk management and compliance for the College of Medicine faculty practice at the University of Iowa in Iowa City; and Kent J. Moore, manager of Health Care Financing and Delivery Systems for the American Academy of Family Physicians in Leawood, Kan.