June 2001 page 10a Coding Consultation Respiratory System, Surgery, 31622, 31628 (Q&A) Question If a diagnostic bronchoscopy ( 31622 ) is considered to be a bilateral procedure, would procedures performed using a bronchoscope also be considered bilateral? For example, if transbronchial biopsy is performed on both lungs, would code 31628 be reported one time, or would modifier -50, Bilateral procedure, be appended? AMA Comment Transbronchial biopsy of both lungs, performed through a bronchoscope, would be reported as 31628 -50. The diagnostic bronchoscopy is considered to be a bilateral procedure, whereas the therapeutic procedures are considered to be unilateral...
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Article Overview
This article is a short CPT Assistant coding consultation focused on respiratory system surgery. It addresses a question about bronchoscopy-related reporting and bilateral procedure considerations, and it is useful for coders working in respiratory, surgical, and physician coding environments who need to understand how the topic is discussed in the CPT Assistant Q&A format.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps readers identify whether the article applies to bronchoscopy-related coding questions and bilateral procedure reporting within respiratory surgery guidance.
Article Sections
Coding Consultation
A question-and-answer discussion of respiratory system surgery coding in the CPT Assistant format. It centers on bronchoscopy-related reporting and bilateral procedure considerations.
What You Will Learn
The scope of a respiratory system surgery coding consultation
How the article frames bronchoscopy-related reporting questions
How bilateral procedure considerations are discussed in a CPT Assistant Q&A format
The type of guidance provided for respiratory surgery coding topics
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