You Be the Coder: Reporting Different Techniques for Polypectomy

Question: Our gastroenterologist recently performed a colonoscopy. During the procedure, using the snare, he removed two polyps, one in the ascending colon and the other in the descending colon. He also conducted a biopsy of another large mass that was present in the sigmoid colon. How should I report this as two different techniques have been employed?

Florida Subscriber

Answer: If multiple polyps are removed by using the same technique, you only code once (with the correct code that is applicable to that particular technique), irrespective of the number of polyps that are removed. But, if the number of polyps are so [...]

- Published on 2012-01-20