Could any one please help me? I have started a new position as coding coordinator for an oncology group. The billing specialists tell me they have always billed for 38220 (bone marrow;aspiration only) and 38221 (bone marrow;biopsy, needle or trocar) and gotten paid for both. 38220 is a component of 38221, so I contend that only the 38221 should be billed.
The procedure note states "Patient was draped and prepped under local anesthetic with 1% lidocaine and bicarbonate. After informed consent, bone marrow was aspirated from the left posterior iliac crest. A bone marrow biopsy was then obtained from the posterior iliac crest and the specimen was sent for bone marrow aspirate and biopsy, flow cytometry and crtogenetics."
What do you think??
The procedure note states "Patient was draped and prepped under local anesthetic with 1% lidocaine and bicarbonate. After informed consent, bone marrow was aspirated from the left posterior iliac crest. A bone marrow biopsy was then obtained from the posterior iliac crest and the specimen was sent for bone marrow aspirate and biopsy, flow cytometry and crtogenetics."
What do you think??