What CPT codes do I use for evaluation and treatment of swallowing and feeding disorders? Report a clinical evaluation of swallowing and feeding with CPT 92610 (evaluation of oral and pharyngeal swallowing function). For treatment, use CPT 92526 (treatment of swallowing dysfunction and/or oral function for feeding).
The clinical examination can be divided into two phases: 1. The preparatory examination with no swallow, and 2. The initial swallow examination with actual swallow while physiology is observed Note: Based on the findings, an instrumental exam may be recommended. Treatment of swallowing and dysfunctional or oral function for feeding (CPT 92526)
Encounter for examination and observation for unspecified reason. Z04.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
Under ICD-10 Codes that Support Medical Necessity Group 1: Paragraph deleted Report dysphagia with the primary diagnosis of I69.091, I69.191, I69.291, I69.391, I69.891, I69.991, J69.0, R13.0,* R13.10-R13.14*, R13.19* or T17.XXXX codes listed in Group 1.
Dysphagia, oropharyngeal phase The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM R13. 12 became effective on October 1, 2021.
ICD-10 code R13. 14 for Dysphagia, pharyngoesophageal phase is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified .
2. F80. 2 — Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder.
Other dysphagiaR13. 19, Other dysphagia, which includes cervical dysphagia and neurogenic dysphagia.
ICD-10 code R47. 02 for Dysphasia is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified .
92526The CPT defines code 92526 as: “treatment of swallowing dysfunction and/or oral function for feeding.” Enrolled speech and language pathologists (SLPs), physicians, and qualified non-physician practitioners (NPP) will be allowed to bill using this code for dates of service on or after January 1, 2016, when the service ...
ICD-10 code R47. 89 for Other speech disturbances is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified .
F82: Specific developmental disorder of motor function.
ICD-10 code F80. 89 for Other developmental disorders of speech and language is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental disorders .
Z12. 11: Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of the colon.
Dysphagia is the medical term for swallowing difficulties. Some people with dysphagia have problems swallowing certain foods or liquids, while others can't swallow at all. Other signs of dysphagia include: coughing or choking when eating or drinking.
High dysphagia is swallowing difficulties caused by problems with the mouth or throat. It can be difficult to treat if it's caused by a condition that affects the nervous system.
Typically the patient describes intermittent dysphagia of sudden onset, separated by symptom-free periods (without swallowing difficulty). Symptoms are often greatest with tough and difficult-to-chew foods. Patients may describe particular problems with foods generally considered to be soft, such as pasta or bread.
Nasal regurgitation is when swallowed food or fluid backtracks and enters the nose. This happens when the nasopharynx does not close properly, and it may indicate a problem with the nerves that empower muscles of the soft palate or throat.
ICD-10-CM Code for Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis K21. 9.
Encounter for screening for other disorder 1 Z13.89 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. 2 The 2021 edition of ICD-10-CM Z13.89 became effective on October 1, 2020. 3 This is the American ICD-10-CM version of Z13.89 - other international versions of ICD-10 Z13.89 may differ.
The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM Z13.89 became effective on October 1, 2021.
Encounter for examination and observation for unspecified reason 1 Z04.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. 2 Short description: Encounter for examination and observation for unsp reason 3 The 2021 edition of ICD-10-CM Z04.9 became effective on October 1, 2020. 4 This is the American ICD-10-CM version of Z04.9 - other international versions of ICD-10 Z04.9 may differ.
The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM Z04.9 became effective on October 1, 2021.
Report a clinical evaluation of swallowing and feeding with CPT 92610 (evaluation of oral and pharyngeal swallowing function). For treatment, use CPT 92526 (treatment of swallowing dysfunction and/or oral function for feeding).
For example, some payers may choose to use CPT 97150 (therapeutic procedure [s], group, 2 or more individuals), and others may opt for CPT code 92508 (treatment of speech, language, voice, communication, and/or auditory processing disorder; group, 2 or more individuals).
No, there is not a specific code that describes swallowing treatment in a group setting. SLPs should check with each payer to determine if group swallowing treatment is covered and, if so, which CPT code to use.
Do not use CPT 74230, which describes the radiologist’s role (swallowing function, with cineradiography/videoradiography). Use the 92612–92617 series of CPT codes to report flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and/or laryngeal sensory testing by cine or video recording. If your role is limited to reviewing results ...
The R13.1– series of codes describing the oral, oropharyngeal, pharyngeal and pharyngoesophageal phases of dysphagia are used to report swallowing and feeding disorders related to underlying medical conditions , such as neurological disorders or structural abnormalities.
According to CCI edits, the CPT code for treatment (CPT 92526) may be billed on the same day as a clinical (CPT 92610), videofluoroscopic (CPT 92611), or endoscopic (CPT 92612–92617) evaluation. However, to appropriately bill for the treatment session, you must document that the evaluation and treatment are separate and distinct services and that the treatment addresses an established plan of care (POC). It may not be appropriate to bill 92526 if there is no POC and a full session addressing established treatment goals hasn’t been completed.
ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision) codes are used to represent diagnoses. Every disease, disorder, infection, injury, and symptom is assigned its own ICD-10 code. The structure of the codes works like this:
While there are a plethora of codes that you may use in your speech therapy practice, you’ll often find that you use certain codes quite frequently — simply because certain conditions appear more than others, and certain treatments are used more often. Here are the most prevalent codes for speech therapy.
Some services provide higher reimbursements than others, so even if your claim is accepted with a not-fully-accurate code, you could be leaving money on the table. Additionally, failing to track the time you spent with each patient could result in lower reimbursement with time-based codes.
Insurance coding can be confusing , especially ICD-10 codes for speech therapy. Even if you have experience in medical billing, the sheer number of codes presents a challenge. How can you reduce the number of claim rejections and denials? How do you know which codes are the most accurate for the services you’re providing? How can you make sure you’re reimbursed for all the time you’re spending with a patient?
Instrumental assessment of swallowing is indicated for either the evaluation of a patient with dysphagia who has a pharyngeal dysfunction or who is at risk for aspiration. Such study is indicated after clinical (noninstrumental) examination identifies an issue that cannot be resolved without further assessment.
All verbiage regarding billing and coding under the Coverage Indications, Limitations and/or Medical Necessity section and the Associated Information section has been removed and is included in the related Billing and Coding: Swallowing Studies for Dysphagia A56621 article. Moved cited workgroup sources from Bibliography to Sources of Information. Formatting, punctuation and typographical errors were corrected throughout the LCD.
Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing (FEESST) is an alternative to modified barium swallow evaluation of patients at risk for aspiration. The procedure entails the passage of a specially equipped flexible endoscope into the oropharynx. The special equipment includes a sensory stimulator that allows quantification of stimuli, a television monitor, a video printer, and a videocassette recorder. Sensory evaluation is performed by administering pulses of air at sequentially increased pressures to elicit the laryngeal adductor reflex. Motor evaluation is carried out by delivering various food items with different consistencies while factors such as oral transit time, inhibition of swallowing, laryngeal elevation, spillage, residue, condition of swallow, laryngeal closure, reflux, aspiration, and ability to clear residue, are monitored.
Based on the studies retrieved, dysphagia should be evaluated from the early stage of the disease, especially when specific clinical markers occur. Timing for dysphagia re-assessment should be based on the recommendation of the swallowing experts on the individual case.
Severe dysphagia with very weak or possibly absent swallow reflex and/or very limited ability to tolerate any aspiration (e.g., brainstem stroke, member tube-fed for prolonged period, very poor pulmonary status, or, poor immunologic status); or
Oropharyngeal dysphagia is usually either a primary abnormality related to structural aberrations of the oropharynx or a secondary manifestation of neuromuscular disease. Causes for dysfunctional swallowing are protean. Both diagnosis and therapy of oropharyngeal dysphagia are based on functional assessment. Following the performance of a clinical examination, instrumental work-up includes evaluating specific aspects of swallowing function, judging the consequences of the swallowing dysfunction, and assessing factors that may be contributing to swallowing dysfunction.
Aetna consider s MBSS medically necessary to evaluate function of the swallowing mechanism when performed by a speech-language pathologist and radiologist when dysphagia has been diagnosed, and there is a need for further follow-up, as indicated by one or more of the following:
However, it is not very efficient and accessible in certain clinical and practical situations. Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) has been shown to be safe and effective for assisting in swallowing evaluation, and in therapy as a visual display to help patients learn various swallowing maneuvers.
Coverage Indications, Limitations, and/or Medical Necessity. Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that may be due to various neurological, structural, and cognitive deficits. Dysphagia may be the result of head trauma, cerebrovascular accident, neuromuscular degenerative diseases, head and neck cancer, and encephalopathies.
For esophageal (lower two thirds) phase of swallowing, documentation should consider the following: Esophageal dysphagia (lower two thirds of the esophagus) is regarded as difficulty in passing food from the esophagus to the stomach.
Goals for this evaluation include identifying structural causes of dysphagia, assessing the functional integrity of the oropharyngeal swallow, evaluating the risk of aspiration, and determining if the pattern of dysphagia is amenable to therapy. The effects of compensatory maneuvers and diet modification on aspiration prevention and/or bolus transport during swallowing are able to be studied radiographically to determine a safe diet and to maximize efficiency of the swallow.
An instrumental assessment (e.g. Modified Barium Swallow Study , Flexible Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) may be indicated for patients with suspected (e.g. observations by clinical or support personnel of choking with meals, excessive drooling, etc.), or who are at high risk for pharyngeal dysphagia. Dysphagia treatment may occur prior to the instrumental assessment. The final analysis and interpretation of a instrumental assessment should include a definitive diagnosis, identification of the swallowing phase (s) affected, and a recommended treatment plan, including compensatory swallowing techniques and/or postures and food and/or fluid texture modification. An instrumental assessment is not indicated if findings from the clinical evaluation fail to support a suspicion of dysphagia; or, when findings from the clinical evaluation suggest dysphagia but include either of the following: (1) the patient is unable to cooperate or participate in an instrumental evaluation; or (2) the instrumental examination would not change the clinical management of the patient. Absence of instrumental evaluation does not preclude the patient from receiving dysphagia treatment. An instrumental assessment is not covered as a screening tool and should be considered only if (a) an appropriate referral for dysphagia by a qualified clinician is made and (b) the dysphagia evaluation supports proceeding with an instrumental assessment.
Impaired salivary gland performance and/or presence of local structural lesion in the pharynx resulting in marked oropharyngeal swallowing difficulties.
Covered dysphagia services must relate directly and specifically to an active written treatment plan and must be reasonable and necessary to the treatment of the individual’s illness or injury. The plan of treatment should address specific therapeutic goals for which modalities and procedures are outlined in terms of type, frequency and duration. The plan of care must be certified/approved by the Physician/NPP.
For oralpharyngeal or esophageal (upper one-third) phase of swallowing, documentation should include one or more of the following: