Advanced Search

Pulmonology Coding Alert

Mythbuster:

What Don't You Know About Thoracoscopy Coding Could Hurt Your Claims

Published on Mon Jun 21, 2010

Diagnostic scopes do not always translate to 32601. Find out why.Whether it's internally inspecting the pleura, lungs, and mediastinum, or obtaining tissue for testing purposes, thoracoscopy involves several operative procedures that can sometimes be misleading without coding guidelines to follow.Examine the following statements, and familiarize yourself with various truths and fictions surrounding thoracoscopy.1. You Can Report Diagnostic Scopes SeparatelyTruth. CMS' Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) specifically states that if the surgeon performs a diagnostic thoracoscopy on the same day as the open thoracotomy procedure, you may report the endoscopy separately. This means any diagnostic thoracoscopy (32601-32606) performed by a surgeon that determines the need for an open surgical procedure should be reported separately.Example: The surgeon examines a patient with pain and breathing difficulty (32601, Thoracoscopy, diagnostic [separate procedure]; lungs and pleural space, without biopsy) using diagnostic thoracoscopy. As a result of the test, the surgeon identifies and locates a foreign body [...]
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

Pulmonology Coding Alert

View All