Wiki Preventive with Audio & Vision Screen

[aschaeve]

Is it appropriate to bill an Audio Screening (92551) and Vision Screening (99173) with a preventive exam on a child?

Alicia, CPC

 

[jettman]

Is it appropriate to bill an Audio Screening (92551) and Vision Screening (99173) with a preventive exam on a child?

Alicia, CPC

Alicia, it is indeed appropriate to report vision and hearing screening separately from the preventive visit codes.

There's some new/revised Preventive Medicine Services intructions from CPT 2011 saying, "Vaccine/toxoid products, immunization administration, ancillary studies involving laboratory, radiology, other procedures or screening tests (eg, vision, hearing, developmental) identified with a specific CPT code are reported separately."

Caveat: Some payers like to bundle screening tests with the well visit codes, but clearly screening tests require extra work beyond the standard well visit, in my humble opinion.

Hope this helps,
Jettman