AMA CPT® Assistant - 2011 Issue 2 (February)

Surgery/Respiratory System (Q&A) (February 2011)

February 2011 page 8b Surgery/Respiratory System Question: Is it appropriate to report CPT code 31622, Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; diagnostic, with cell washing, when performed (separate procedure), with modifier 50, Bilateral Procedure? Answer: No. Diagnostic bronchoscopy (code 31622) is inherently bilateral because of the nature of the procedure, ie, "visualization of all major lobar and segmental bronchi." Note that Medicare does not allow the use of modifier 50 with any of these codes, including 31622. Surgery/Respiratory System (Q&A) (February 2011). CPT® Assistant. 2011; February 2011 page 8b ...

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CPT® Assistant content is the official source for CPT® coding guidance. It is an instrumental tool when appealing insurance denials and validating coding to auditors. Monthly issues and an extensive archive provide comprehensive guidance on proper CPT® coding for past, present and upcoming code set releases. Archives date back to 1990 for historical use of codes, changes, rationales, coding tips and trends in the industry.

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