I've always been instructed that if a polyp was ablated/fulgurated via snare to code 45385. The description of 45383 contained "not amenable to removal by hot biopsy forceps, bipolar cautery or snare technique" which was interpreted that if any of those 3 methods were used for ablating a polyp it didn't apply. There have been some discussions over the years as to whether that was a correct interpretation.
With the new code for 2015, 45388, that entire description is gone. Would that mean you could code 45388 for ablation by any method?
Angela Anderson, CPC
With the new code for 2015, 45388, that entire description is gone. Would that mean you could code 45388 for ablation by any method?
Angela Anderson, CPC