Wiki Issue with 31641 - Tumor Destruction for Bronchoscopy

Messages
1
Best answers
0
I am hoping I can get some clarification for this code. I am having trouble with this code in that the providers are using it anytime a cryoprobe is utilized in a bronchoscopy. Their rationale is that because a cryoprobe, by nature of its function, does damage to tissue, that it is tumor destruction. I have already spoken to my compliance team and we have one solution. If the patient does not have a tumor identified from the specimens in the pathology, then it absolutely cannot apply to that code. However, the issue still lies in that the providers are now putting "tumor destruction" in their notes. (i.e. "Transbronchial cryobiopsy with tumor destruction"). Their reasoning for doing the bronchoscopy is because of something like lung nodules or infiltrates. My understanding of the code was that this is based on the intent of the procedure. A biopsy that incidentally finds cancer is not the same as an intentional approach to remove/reduce a tumor. Can this code be used when when the intent of the bronchoscopy was diagnosis? Or is this code meant to be used only on previously identified tumors that the intent is to debulk/remove/destroy?
 
Top