Wiki Colonoscopies & Modifier -33

[GTRINIDAD]

Good Afternoon,

There still seems to be some argument over the use of modifier -33 with non-Medicare Surveillance Colonoscopy cases.
The March 2013 AAPC Cutting Edge contained an article on Screening vs. Surveillance Colonoscopies. The article advised of using V12.72 as primary diagnosis for patients with history of polyps. In such cases, is anyone appending the -33 modifier?

Thanks,
GTrinidad

 

[thunter000]

Tammy

We have been only been using the -33 for Regence and Premera. They are not honoring it with dx code V12.72 though. The only dx it seems to work for is the V76.51. The rest (V.16, V18.51 etc) they tell us are medical diagnoses and will pay using the medical benefit rather than the preventative benefit.