Tip: Correctly code multiple turbinate removal
APCs Weekly Monitor, July 2, 2010
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The AMA’s CPT Assistant advises in its December 2004 issue not to report code 30930 (fracture nasal inferior turbinate(s), therapeutic) with 30140 (submucous resection inferior turbinate, partial or complete, any method) if the procedures are performed on the same turbinate.
Verify that 30930 and 30140—when reported for the same case—don’t classify procedures performed on the same turbinate. For example, if the OR report documents that 30930 classifies the left inferior turbinate surgery and code 30140 classifies the right inferior turbinate surgery, then both codes are appropriate.
Any case reported with 30930-50 and 30140-50 is inappropriate because such coding indicates that fracture and submucous resection techniques were used on both inferior turbinates, which violates the CPT coding guidelines.
This tip is adapted from “Build a base for comprehensive review of procedure data” in the July issue of Briefings on APCs.
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