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Pulmonology Coding Alert

Case Study:

Bronchoscopy + Thoracotomy: Look For This Exception to the CCI Rule

Published on Sat May 22, 2010

Don't even think about appending modifier 51 to 38746 -- here's why.Rarely do bronchoscopy and thoracotomy go together in a claim as separate procedures.Since 2004, the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) has bundled bronchoscopy and thoracotomy codes, and only by appending modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) to the bronchoscopy code could you bill them separately " that is, if both codes are appropriate to report.But not so fast. You should watch out for cases when 31622 (Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; diagnostic, with cell washing, when performed [separate procedure]) and 321xx (Thoracotomy, major) could work handin hand as two separate elements.A scenario which may support bronchoscopy and thoracotomy complementing each other is when a thoracic surgeon performs a diagnostic bronchoscopy prior to a thoracotomy and, based upon the results of the bronchoscopy, undertakes thoracic surgery.Learn more about reporting a bronchoscopy when the thoracic surgeon performs a thoracotomy with [...]
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