Ask the Coder (539)

1) Tapp appliance 21089 for appliance and 99002 for handeling must have a narrative accompany claim. 2) New patient code range 99201-99204 Established patient code range 99212-99214 3) Panorex 70355 Full mouth 70320 4) TMJ what procedure? 5) No cross code available use exam code New 99201 established 99212 6) New patient code range 99201-99204 (more)

You may use either D0120 or D0180, you will need to check with your carrier for specific guidelines.

Third molars are coded in box 24 D of the CMS form It should look like this: 41899 UL 41899 UR 59 41899 LL 59 41899 LR 59 The UL, LL, LR & UR are placed in the first modifier field, the 59 is placed in the second modifier filed and is appened to the (more)

The appropriate code for the extractions would be 41899 with the use of modifiers, so your claim would look something like this; 41899 UL 41899 UR 59 41899 LL 59 41899 LR 59 The modifiers UR, UL, LL, LR indicate the quadrant, while the modifier 59 alerts the carrier that these are seperately identifiable procedures (more)

Depending on the device, if you are using TAP appliance you would use 21089 for the appliance and 99002 for the handeling of the appliance. You need to be more specific as to the type of sleep apenea device your are utilizing. Medicare will only pay for an appliance if a sleep study has been (more)

The dental code that best fits CPT code 20900 (Bone graft, any donor area, minor or small) is D4263 (bone replacement graft - first site in quadrant)

You always want to fully disclose to the insurance company how a contract or treatment is being proposed or paid for by the patient. Yes, it is ok to bill this way!

The rules to billing medical carriers are defined within your contracts and vary from carrier to carrier, you need to review your contracts or review the guidelines found in your CPT manual. As for determining diagnosis codes these must come from your doctor, you as a coder/biller may not determine what diagnosis is appropriate. Once (more)

Therapeutic drug injections are coded to medical carriers by the actual drug being used. If the drug you are using is Decadron you have the correct code of J1100. This code is placed in the procedure code of the CMS-1500 form just as your other CPT codes are, it is box 24D. You do not (more)

The answer to your question is really a matter of opinion. If you ask the dentist or billing staff the answer would be yes. D0350 oral/facial photographic images would be used for diagnostic purposes. The reason is simple by taking photographs the dentist is able to map out a clear cut plan and ascessment of (more)