Digital exam was normal with the following findings: hemorrhoids. The colonoscope was withdrawn and the procedure was terminated due to scope clogging..
No. Per Medicare guidelines, the procedure should be codes as a colonoscopy with a 53 modifier, which will pay a partial fee and allow you to repeat the procedure within the restricted time period and get full payment for the second procedure. Even if the scope was advanced beyond the splenic flexure, but the visualization was poor and the physician wants to repeat the procedure within the restricted time period, add the 53 modifier.
793.4 NONSPECIFIC (ABNORMAL) FINDINGS ON RADIOLOGICAL AND OTHER EXAMINATION OF GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
789.30 – 789.39 ABDOMINAL OR PELVIC SWELLING MASS OR LUMP UNSPECIFIED SITE – ABDOMINAL OR PELVIC SWELLING MASS OR LUMP OTHER SPECIFIED SITE
Billing and Coding articles provide guidance for the related Local Coverage Determination (LCD) and assist providers in submitting correct claims for payment. Billing and Coding articles typically include CPT/HCPCS procedure codes, ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, as well as Bill Type, Revenue, and CPT/HCPCS Modifier codes. The code lists in the article help explain which services (procedures) the related LCD applies to, the diagnosis codes for which the service is covered, or for which the service is not considered reasonable and necessary and therefore not covered.
DISCONTINUED PROCEDURE: UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE PHYSICIAN MAY ELECT TO TERMINATE A SURGICAL OR DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE. DUE TO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES OR THOSE THAT THREATEN THE WELL BEING OF THE PATIENT, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO INDICATE THAT A SURGICAL OR DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE WAS STARTED BUT DISCONTINUED. THIS CIRCUMSTANCE MAY BE REPORTED BY ADDING THE MODIFIER -53 TO THE CODE REPORTED BY THE PHYSICIAN FOR THE DISCONTINUED PROCEDURE OR BY USE OF THE SEPARATE FIVE DIGIT MODIFIER CODE 09953. NOTE: THIS MODIFIER IS NOT USED TO REPORT THE ELECTIVE CANCELLATION OF A PROCEDURE PRIOR TO THE PATIENT'S ANESTHESIA INDUCTION AND/OR SURGICAL PREPARATION IN THE OPERATING SUITE. FOR OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL/AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTER (ASC) REPORTING OF A PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED PROCEDURE/SERVICE THAT IS PARTIALLY REDUCED OR CANCELLED AS A RESULT OF EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES OR THOSE THAT THREATEN THE WELL BEING OF THE PATIENT PRIOR TO OR AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF ANESTHESIA, SEE MODIFIERS -73 AND -74 (SEE MODIFIERS APPROVED FOR ASC HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT USE).
You, your employees and agents are authorized to use CPT only as contained in the following authorized materials of CMS internally within your organization within the United States for the sole use by yourself, employees and agents. Use is limited to use in Medicare, Medicaid or other programs administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). You agree to take all necessary steps to insure that your employees and agents abide by the terms of this agreement.
Contractors may specify Revenue Codes to help providers identify those Revenue Codes typically used to report this service. In most instances Revenue Codes are purely advisory. Unless specified in the article, services reported under other Revenue Codes are equally subject to this coverage determination. Complete absence of all Revenue Codes indicates that coverage is not influenced by Revenue Code and the article should be assumed to apply equally to all Revenue Codes.
CPT codes, descriptions and other data only are copyright 2020 American Medical Association. American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved (or such other date of publication of CPT). CPT is a trademark of the American Medical Association (AMA).
CPT is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. AMA warrants that due to the nature of CPT, it does not manipulate or process dates, therefore there is no Year 2000 issue with CPT. AMA disclaims responsibility for any errors in CPT that may arise as a result of CPT being used in conjunction with any software and/or hardware system that is not Year 2000 compliant. No fee schedules, basic unit, relative values or related listings are included in CPT. The AMA does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services. The responsibility for the content of this file/product is with CMS and no endorsement by the AMA is intended or implied. The AMA disclaims responsibility for any consequences or liability attributable to or related to any use, non-use, or interpretation of information contained or not contained in this file/product. This Agreement will terminate upon no upon notice if you violate its terms. The AMA is a third party beneficiary to this Agreement.
To report screening colonoscopy on a patient not considered high risk for colorectal cancer, use HCPCS code G0121 and diagnosis code Z12.11 ( encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of the colon ).
Medicare beneficiaries without high risk factors are eligible for screening colonoscopy every ten years. Beneficiaries at high risk for developing colorectal cancer are eligible once every 24 months. Medicare considers an individual at high risk for developing colorectal cancer as one who has one or more of the following:
Add modifier PT to the CPT ® codes above to indicate that a scheduled screening colonoscopy was converted to diagnostic or therapeutic. Modifier PT should be added to the anesthesia service as well. This informs Medicare that it was a service performed for screening and the patient will not be charged a deductible. There will be a co-pay due.
The PT modifier ( colorectal cancer screening test, converted to diagnostic test or other procedure) is appended to the CPT ® code.
G0121 ( colorectal cancer screening; colonoscopy on individual not meeting the criteria for high risk.
As such, “screening” describes a colonoscopy that is routinely performed on an asymptomatic person for the purpose of testing for the presence of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps. Whether a polyp or cancer is ultimately found does not ...
Colonoscopy, flexible, proximal to splenic flexure; diagnostic, with or without collection of specimen (s) by brushing or washing, with or without colon decompression (separate procedure) G0121 ( colorectal cancer screening; colonoscopy on individual not meeting the criteria for high risk.
The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM Z53.9 became effective on October 1, 2021.
Z53.20 Procedure and treatment not carried out because of patient's decision for unspecified reasons. Z53.21 Procedure and treatment not carried out due to patient leaving prior to being seen by health care provider. Z53.29 Procedure and treatment not carried out because of patient's decision for other reasons.