Jo Ann Steigerwald, RHIT, ACS-GI, ACS-OH
Ophthalmology surgery requires close attention to the operative note in order to determine which procedures were performed, which can be billed separately and what modifiers, if any, to use. Plus, you’ll also need to sort out when CCI lets you bill more than one code -- watch out sometimes CCI ok’s billing, but only if both eyes are done.
But don’t get an ocular migraine – find out the CPT® and Medicare rules for bundling, and what modifiers – if any – are appropriate under what circumstances so you can bill appropriately.
The rules aren’t always so cut and dry. Ophthalmology coding guru Jo Ann Steigerwald, RHIT, ACS-GI, ACS-OH, will walk you through the steps so you will never have to wonder about how to code your physician’s surgical services. Here are just some of the hot-button items she will focus on:
- Lesser to greater procedures such as lasers to destroy retinal lesions, 67210 and 67228, and modifier 58.
- Avastin/Lucentis/Macugen injections with visits.
- New retinal detachment repair edits for 2008.
- LT/RT vs. 59 to denote procedures on fellow eye.
- Modifier 78 and 79 – what is a complication, and what isn’t.
You'll hear the latest rules for these surgical codes and modifiers along with real-life examples that are guaranteed to give you the confidence you need to code your ophthalmologist’s op notes.
