AGA: 12 lower GI endoscopy coding changes to know for 2015

Carrie Pallardy -

There are substantial changes in store for lower GI endoscopy procedures in 2015. Here are 12 things to know about the revisions, according to the American Gastroenterological Association.

Terminology

•    The CPT Editorial Panel has been replacing the phrase "with or without" with "including, when performed." In 2014, this change affected esophagoscopy, EGD and ERCP. In 2015, this change will be made to the terminology for ileoscopy, pouchoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy through stoma and colonoscopy.

•    The word "bowel" is being replaced with "intestine." Both changes are editorial and do not affect the way the codes are reported.

Stenting

•    New CPT codes for placement of stents have bundled pre-dilation, post-dilation and guide wire passage.

Bleeding control

•    The new descriptor for control bleeding replaces all examples with "any method." Submucosal injection will not be reported if it is part of the control of bleeding procedure.

Ablation

•    New codes now include pre- and post-dilation and guide wire passage.

EMR

•    Submucosal injection, banding or snare polypectomy for the same lesion are bundled into the code for endoscopic mucosal resection. EMR can include injection-assisted, cap-assisted and ligation-assisted techniques.

Enteroscopy

•    A new definition and instructions for reporting enteroscopy will be included in the section guidelines.

Ileoscopy

•    New codes have been added for stent placement and transendoscopic balloon dilation.

Pouchoscopy

•    New section guidelines will call for the reporting of pouch endoscopy codes for endoscopic examination of patient who has undergone resection the colon with ileo-anal anastomosis.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy

•    Section guidelines will include specific instructions for reporting flexible sigmoidoscopy. New codes for the flexible sigmoidoscopy group include EMR and band ligation. Revised codes focus on ablation and stent placement reporting.

Colonoscopy through stoma

•    New codes for the colonoscopy through stoma group include EMR, submucosal injection, balloon dilation, EUS, EUS with FNA and decompression of pathologic distention. Revised codes focus on ablation and stent placement reporting.

Colonoscopy

•    New codes for the colonoscopy group include EMR, band ligation and decompression for pathologic distention. Revised codes focus on ablation and stent placement reporting.

Unlisted procedures

•    A new cod and a revised code have been created to separate unlisted procedures of the colon from unlisted procedures of the small intestine and rectum.

CPT Copyright 2013 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.

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