natashalage
Guru
Hello Coding Professionals! I am a new coder and will greatly appreciate your help with understanding on how to choose the correct CPT code for the following scenario.
I have seen a few cases when pt had elective Abortion (AB) ( w/evacuation or curettage) a few days ago and now is admitted for D&E of the Retained POC w/without hemorrhage. (Progressive cervical dilation was done with Pratt dilators.. and uterine aspiration was performed with electrical suction) What puzzles me is the procedure/CPT that I need to choose.
I have searched this forum extensively and didn’t find the answer to my question. Here are my summary and a few questions, please.
1. Is it 59160? 59160-Curettage, postpartum-The physician scrapes the endometrial lining of the uterus following childbirth.. The physician gently scrapes the endometrial lining of the uterus to control bleeding, treat obstetric lacerations, or remove any remaining placental tissue.
To me, it’s not 59160 because a) this code is for After the Delivery b) it does not require Dilation of cervix. But in my cases, MD dilates and pt had Abortion (15w-19w), not a Delivery.
2. Is it 58120? 58120-Dilation and curettage, diagnostic and/or therapeutic (nonobstetrical)-MD dilates, scrapes for diag/therapeutic purposes. Someone in this forum suggested to use this code because pt is no longer pregnant.
3. Or to use again Abortion CPT, 59812 Treatment of incomplete abortion, any trimester, completed surgically? I like this code better; it describes Dilation and Suction that were done for retained POC. What confuses me is that it seems like I am billing for AB twice: elective AB ( 59840/59841) and now, a few days later, 59812 for Incomplete AB.
Your perplexed OB/GYN student.
Thank you very much for your help!
I have seen a few cases when pt had elective Abortion (AB) ( w/evacuation or curettage) a few days ago and now is admitted for D&E of the Retained POC w/without hemorrhage. (Progressive cervical dilation was done with Pratt dilators.. and uterine aspiration was performed with electrical suction) What puzzles me is the procedure/CPT that I need to choose.
I have searched this forum extensively and didn’t find the answer to my question. Here are my summary and a few questions, please.
1. Is it 59160? 59160-Curettage, postpartum-The physician scrapes the endometrial lining of the uterus following childbirth.. The physician gently scrapes the endometrial lining of the uterus to control bleeding, treat obstetric lacerations, or remove any remaining placental tissue.
To me, it’s not 59160 because a) this code is for After the Delivery b) it does not require Dilation of cervix. But in my cases, MD dilates and pt had Abortion (15w-19w), not a Delivery.
2. Is it 58120? 58120-Dilation and curettage, diagnostic and/or therapeutic (nonobstetrical)-MD dilates, scrapes for diag/therapeutic purposes. Someone in this forum suggested to use this code because pt is no longer pregnant.
3. Or to use again Abortion CPT, 59812 Treatment of incomplete abortion, any trimester, completed surgically? I like this code better; it describes Dilation and Suction that were done for retained POC. What confuses me is that it seems like I am billing for AB twice: elective AB ( 59840/59841) and now, a few days later, 59812 for Incomplete AB.
Your perplexed OB/GYN student.
Thank you very much for your help!