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Pulmonology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Avoid Modifier 51 For Multiple Endoscopies Unless Payer Rules Mandate it

Published on Wed Nov 06, 2013

Question: Our pulmonologist recently assessed a patient who he had diagnosed with lung abscess. He performed a bronchoscopy on the patient and obtained a bronchoalveolar lavage sample. He also performed drainage of the lung abscess. Can I report the lavage and the drainage of the abscess separately? If so, should I use a modifier to separate the two services?
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