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Q&A: You’ve got questions! We’ve got answers!

Physician Practice Insider, October 18, 2016

Submit your questions to Associate Editor Nicole Votta at nvotta@hcpro.com and we will work with our experts to provide you with the information you need.

Q: Should modifiers for laterality be used for CPT® code 31624 (bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; with bronchial alveolar lavage)?

A: Yes. The body contains a left main bronchus and a right main bronchus. Therefore, you should append modifiers -RT and -LT when appropriate. If the physician performs the procedure bilaterally, you can append modifier -50 (bilateral procedure).


Editor’s note: Shelley C. Safian, PhD, CCS-P, CPC-H, CPC-I, AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer, of Safian Communications Services in Orlando, Florida, answered this question. She is a senior assistant professor who teaches medical billing and insurance coding at Herzing University Online in Milwaukee. Email your questions to Associate Editor Nicole Votta at nvotta@hcpro.com.

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