Good Morning,
Vermont Medicaid has placed a restriction on 92002/4 92012/4 eye exam codes. However, my understanding was that the eye exam service was not fundamentally uncodable as an E&M service using the 99--- office visit codes.
My understanding is that the 92--- codes exist to compensate for the fact an eye exam usually results in a very restricted review of systems, resulting in an artificially reduced level of E&M service. Thus, it is not incorrect coding that providers bill their eye exams as the 99--- codes, it is just in their best interest to use the 92--- codes, since they do not have to do a comprehensive review of systems when that is not a major part of the examination.
I would like to request feedback on this, if anyone can confirm or deny my understanding of the coding.
Thanks,
Chris Lyon
Vermont Medicaid has placed a restriction on 92002/4 92012/4 eye exam codes. However, my understanding was that the eye exam service was not fundamentally uncodable as an E&M service using the 99--- office visit codes.
My understanding is that the 92--- codes exist to compensate for the fact an eye exam usually results in a very restricted review of systems, resulting in an artificially reduced level of E&M service. Thus, it is not incorrect coding that providers bill their eye exams as the 99--- codes, it is just in their best interest to use the 92--- codes, since they do not have to do a comprehensive review of systems when that is not a major part of the examination.
I would like to request feedback on this, if anyone can confirm or deny my understanding of the coding.
Thanks,
Chris Lyon