CPT Codes for Colonoscopy with Biopsy, Polypectomy, APC

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on">Review CPT Codes for Colonoscopy with Biopsy, Polypectomy, APC to find out more about the procedures and costs of colonoscopy with biopsy, polypectomy, and/or APC. <br /> <br /> CPT Codes are an American coding system that is used to give codes to medical services and procedures. CPT Codes were created and published by American Medical Association in 1966 and have been managed by CPT Editorial Panel ever since. <br /> <br /> Whenever some CPT Codes changes are proposed, Editorial Panel review the proposals and approve them annually. CPT Codes are an important system for communicating medical services and procedures among patients, health insurance companies, and health personnel such as doctors, nurses, lab technicians, hospital administrators. By using CPT Codes, miscommunication about medical services and procedures is minimized.<br /> <br /> One of the medical services that is important to have CPT Codes is colonoscopy since biopsy, polypectomy, and/or APC can be carried out accompanying the colonoscopy performed.<br /> <br /> To put it simply, colonoscopy is a procedure that is performed to see the inside of colon or large intestine and rectum by using a long, thin, and flexible tube with a tiny video camera and a tiny lightning at the end of the tube called a colonoscope or only a scope. The length of colonoscope is around 1200 - 1500 mm (47.3 - 59 inches) that enables the doctor to examine the inside walls of the entire length of the colon. There is a side channel inside the colonoscope that enables the physician to put another instrument in to perform biopsy, polypectomy or APC during colonoscopy.<br /> <div style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.medicalbillingcodings.org/2015/01/cptcodesapc-colonoscopy-biopsy-polypectomy.html"><img alt="CPT Codes for Colonoscopy with Biopsy, Polypectomy, APC" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLCG_vuWOuJIzvVOlY3wT0iE9uE5RE2-3eCetr8BEJSZoS61dxQiqTs2QMoe7jpUmQmB_lykEz0fAZDUSQUoIU_uqePMi3kaPfmKiwLvtdfdjHpO9kGApdoWm3x6CzBzhDwMkrm4mukM6/s1600/icdcptcodes-colonoscopy-biopsy-polypectomy-apc.jpg" /></a></div><br /> To get the best result of colonoscopy, the colon should be empty and clean. To achieve this, patient might be instructed to follow a specific diet instruction several days before the day the colonoscopy is performed. For example, the patient is instructed to do liquid diet for several days before the colonoscopy day. Liquid diet means consuming mostly or only liquids in the form of fruit or vegetable juices or shakes. In addition, the patient might be asked to drink a lot of special solution to clean the colon. Also, laxatives or enema may also be administered to the patient before colonoscopy to clean the colon.<br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="background:transparent;display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9363927180650200" data-ad-slot="5122491578" data-ad-format="auto"></ins><script defer>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script><br /> <h2>CPT Codes for Colonoscopy with Biopsy, Polypectomy, APC</h2>More than two million colonoscopies are performed each year in the United States. Most of Colonoscopies are performed on outpatient for screening, diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Colonoscopy Coding can be challenging, especially those procedures that include biopsy and polyp removal. Accurate assignment of colonoscopy procedure codes depends on the documentation of the procedure performed and the technique used to perform the procedure. <br /> <br /> <h3>Colonoscopy Coding Factors</h3>Different CPT Codes for Colonoscopy with Biopsy, Polypectomy, APC are used. Let's understand how to Code Colonoscopies:<br /> <ol><li>Was other Procedure(s) performed during the diagnostic colonoscopy?</li> <li>What was the technique used?</li> <li>What instruments were used?</li> </ol>Once the above factors are determined, use the following information as guidance to determine when each of the following codes is reported:<br /> <br /> <h4>CPT 45378 Diagnostic Colonoscopies</h4>CPT 45378, Colonoscopy, flexible, proximal to the splenic flexure; diagnostic, with or without collection of specimen(s) by brushing or washing, with or without colon decompression is used to report diagnostic colonoscopies.<br /> <br /> All surgical colonoscopy codes include a diagnostic colonoscopy. Therefore, if any other procedure but a brushing or washing is performed during the diagnostic colonoscopy, the surgical colonoscopy should be billed using codes 45380-45385. It would not be appropriate to report code 45378 in addition to the therapeutic procedure.<br /> <br /> <h4>HCPC G0105, G0121 Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer Screening</h4>Effective January, 1, 1998, Medicare created HCPCS Level II codes which are equivalent to and are used in place of CPT code 45378 when reporting outpatient colonoscopies for screening of colorectal cancer on Medicare patients.<br /> <br /> Code G0105 to report a screening colonoscopy for patients who are at high risk for colorectal cancer. High risk is an individual with one or more of the following: close relative (sibling, parent or child) who has had colorectal cancer or an adenomatous polyp, family history of familial adenomatous polyposis, a family history of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, a personal history of adenomatous polyps, a personal history of colorectal cancer, or inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis.<br /> <br /> Code G0121 is used to report colonoscopies for colorectal screening on patients not meeting criteria for high risk. If an abnormality is found during a screening colonoscopy that results in a therapeutic procedure (e.g., biopsy, polypectomy, excision of lesion), then the appropriate CPT code is used instead of HCPCS Level II codes G0105 or G0121.<br /> <br /> There various procedures of colonoscopy cause the existence of several different CPT Codes for Colonoscopy with Biopsy, Polypectomy, APC. <br /> <br /> <h4>CPT Code 45380 Colonoscopy with Biopsy</h4>45380 is Colonoscopy with biopsy, single or multiple. Describes the use of forceps to grasp and remove a small piece of tissue without the application of cautery. The procedure note may describe the biopsy using cold biopsy forceps, or may not mention the device at all. <br /> <br /> The biopsy may be from an obvious lesion that is too large to remove, from a suspicious area of abnormal mucosa, or from a lesion or polyp so small that it can be completely removed during the performance of the biopsy.<br /> <br /> Colonoscopy with removal by snare technique (45385) should not be used for the removal of a small polyp by “biopsy” or “cold forceps” technique. All lesions or polyps removed by cold biopsy foceps are reported using code 45380.<br /> <br /> <h4>CPT Code 45381 Colonoscopy with Substance Injection</h4>CPT 45381 is Colonoscopy, flexible, proximal to the splenic flexure; with directed submucosal injection(s), any substance.<br /> <br /> Reported when any substance is injected into the submucosal. Substances include saline, India ink, methylene blue, Botox and steroids. For example, code 45381 would be reported for an injection to “tattoo” an area with India ink for later identification during a subsequent procedure.<br /> <br /> Code 45381 should be reported as an additional service to any other therapuetic procedure performed at the same time. yet, it is not used to report injections to control bleeding.<br /> <br /> <h4>CPT Code 45382 Colonoscopy with APC</h4>CPT 45382 is Colonoscopy, flexible, proximal to the splenic flexure; with control of bleeding, (e.g., injection, bipolar cautery, unipolar cautery, laser, heater probe, stapler, plasma coagulator).<br /> <br /> It is used to describe injection to control bleeding resulting from a number of causes including diverticulosis, angiodysplasia or prior session intervensions.<br /> <br /> Bleeding that starts as a result of an intervention performed during the colonoscopy, such as a polypectomy or biopsy, and is controlled by any method is considered part of the initial therapeutic procedure and should not be reported separately with code 45382.<br /> <br /> <h4>CPT Code 45383 Ablation of Tumor, Polyp</h4>CPT 45383 is Colonoscopy, flexible, proximal to splenic flexure; with ablation of tumor(s), polyp(s), or other lesion(s) not amenable to removal by hot biopsy forceps, bipolar cautery or snare technique.<br /> <br /> The description of this code is not as clear cut. It can be misleading because it only indicates what techniques the code should not be reported for. Hot biopsy and bipolar cautery techniques are reported with CPT 43584. Snare technique is reported with CPT 43585. <br /> <br /> CPT 45383 can be reported for the ablation of a tumor, polyp or other lesion (including arteriovenous malformations) using a number of different devices including heater probe, bipolar cautery prober, or argon laser, argon plasma coagulators (APC).<br /> <br /> This is the most often used technique for performing a polypectomy during a colonoscopy. When the snare cautery technique is used, a wire loop is heated and then placed around the desired piece of tissue or polyp to shave off the polyp or lesion. It’s important to note that the snare device may be used with or without heat or cautery. The key term in using this code is “snare” removal. Hot snare, cold snare, monopolar snare and bipolar snare should all be reported with code 45385.<br /> <br /> <h4>CPT Code 45384 Colonoscopy with Polypectomy</h4>CPT 45384 is Colonoscopy, flexible, proximal to the splenic flexure; with removal of tumor(s), polyp(s), or other lesion(s) by hot biopsy forceps or bipolar cautery. This code is used when bipolar cautery and monopolary cautery forceps are used to remove tissue.<br /> <br /> Hot biopsy forceps, also called monopolar cautery forceps, create heat in the metal portion of the forceps cup by causing current to flow from the device to a grounding pad on the patient’s body to cauterize the lesion or polyp. Bipolar cautery uses current that runs from one portion of the tip of the cautery device to another to cauterize and remove a lesion or polyp.<br /> <br /> If the biopsy and polypectomy are performed on different sites, CPT Code 45380 for the biospy and 45385 (by snare). Thus, CPT code 45380 is used for polypectomy done by cold biopsy and CPT code 45384 is used for hot biopsy for the polyp removal.<br /> </div>

CPT Codes for Colonoscopy with Biopsy, Polypectomy, APC

Review CPT Codes for Colonoscopy with Biopsy, Polypectomy, APC to find out more about the procedures and costs of colonoscopy with biopsy, polypectomy, and/or APC. CPT Codes are an American coding sy…

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Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant Career and Salary

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on">Compare <b>Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant</b> on career and salary potentials, as to check which is the best career option. Learn schooling requirements, education programs, job opportunities, salary prospects and differences in these healthcare/medical career specialties. <br /> <br /> Over the last two decades, like <a href="http://www.medicalbillingcodings.org/2013/06/medical-billing-coding-main-responsibilities.html">Medical Biller</a>, there are many other new medical and healthcare professions and career opportunities have emerged on US Healthcare panorama. Two such healthcare professions are that of a physician assistant and nurse practitioner. While Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant, both of these professions are somewhat similar. Many people find it difficult to differentiate between the two specialties. <br /> <br /> However, despite of subtle differences between <b>Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant</b>, these are actually quite different from each other. That's why before choosing Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant career track, a clear understanding about each career is need.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.medicalbillingcodings.org/2015/01/nursepractitionervsphysicianassistantbestcareer.html" ><img alt="Nurse Practitioner (NA) vs Physician Assistant (PA)" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Yh5iTrDiIkciPP0gil9dYOhXYyJjBR5uNhuAldhATRUb0ouOC49rDk8ZPiqJMhHbefO9EuMIDjKtRheyxmPSSUjk0_8IjiHLMl0UKz21dQtNQkw7BXxq6dTKp4i9_C8XoVmWgTsV8P9s/s1600/nursepractitioner-nps-vs-pas-physicianassistant.jpg" /></a></div><br /> Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) are healthcare workers who typically work under the supervision of licensed physicians. However, different specialties are available within these professions, and the roles of NPs and PAs are governed by varying state laws. Read on to discover the distinctions between NPs and PAs.<br /> <br /> <h2>Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant, Which is the Best Career?</h2>Both Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) complete many years of postsecondary schooling, often resulting in a master's degree. However, these professionals serve different roles within their places of work, which might include hospitals, doctors' offices or other healthcare facilities. Let's scrutinize the differences between Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant:<br /> <p><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="background:transparent;display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3317414412439023" data-ad-slot="2329304590" data-ad-format="auto"></ins><br /> <script defer>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script></p><h3>Nurse Practitioner (NA)</h3>Nurse Practitioner (NP) is also known as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). From the name itself, nurse practitioner, it can be guessed that people go to Nursing School to be a nurse practitioner. <br /> <br /> Nurse practitioner provides health care that is patient-centered. Nurse practitioner also provides health education to family or people to prevent diseases. Nurse Practitioner is allowed to work alone without physicians and also open his/her own practice as a result of doctor shortage in 1960s.<br /> <br /> <h4>Nurse Practitioner Specialties</h4>There are many Nurse Practitioner Specialties. The most prominent nursing specializations are:<br /> <br /> Midwife Nurse Practitioner is a nurse practitioner who specializes in midwifery. Nurse midwife may provide health care for women (since puberty until menopause), pregnant women, and newborn babies. Nurse midwife is qualified to assist normal, healthy pregnant women in birthing with no complication or, at least, no high risks. For pregnant women with complications or complex diseases or medical histories, nurse midwife might collaborate with physician and/or obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) to provide health care to the women. Nurse midwife can practice in hospitals, clinics, birthing centers, or assisting birthing at home. <br /> <br /> Anesthetist Nurse Practitioner, now popularly known as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), is a nurse practitioner who specializes in administrating anesthesia for surgery and other procedure. <br /> <br /> Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or mental health nursing, now known as Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), is a nurse practitioner who specializes in providing health care to patients of all ages with mental illness or mental disturbances, such as depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, schizophrenia, psychosis, etc. Nurse practitioners in psychiatric or mental health nursing can provide psychological therapies, administer psychiatric medication, build therapeutic relationship, handle difficult behaviors, etc. <br /> <br /> These are not the only nurse practitioner specializations. There are many other specializations of nurse practitioner such as Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP), Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) etc.<br /> <br /> <h4>Nurse Practitioner Education Programs</h4>To be a nurse practitioner or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), a person has to have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) first, and then get a license as Registered Nurse (RN), and have some work experience as Registered Nurse. <br /> <br /> Further, the person can attend nurse practitioner program at graduate or doctorate school to be a nurse practitioner. There will be accreditation, certification and re-certification of every 5 years, to be a nurse practitioner or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).<br /> <br /> <h4>Nurse Practitioner Salary</h4>According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean nurse practitioner salary is $95,070. However, some nurse practitioners earn as little as $55,000 per year, while other who are willing to work long hours can make around $200,000 annually. <br /> <br /> <h3>Physician Assistant (PA)</h3>Physician Assistant (PA) job was first created based on the fast trained medical doctors in World War II. Physician assistant job also exists in countries other than United States, but with different names such as Assistant Doctors in China, Assistant Medical Officers in Malaysia, Clinical Assistant in South Africa and Physician Associate in UK.<br /> <br /> Guessing from the name, Physician Assistant, it can be assumed that Physician Assistant job is to assist a physician. Therefore, unlike nurse practitioner, physician assistant cannot work alone. Physician assistant always works with a physician or in a team of physicians. <br /> <br /> Physician assistant provides health care that is disease-centered. Physician assistant assists physician in examining and treating patients and also in surgery as first or second assistant. Physician assistant may get access to the Patient Medical Records, perform health management, examination, evaluation, and treatments. Physician assistant may also make a diagnosis, refer patients to specialists, prescribe medicines and interpret laboratory health tests. <br /> <br /> <h4>Physician Assistant Specialties</h4>Physician Assistant is usually generalist, but can also be specialized such as in surgery, cardiology, orthopedics, emergency medicine, etc. Physician assistant usually works in hospitals, clinics, and other health facilities. <br /> <br /> <h4>Physician Assistant Education Programs</h4>To become Physician Assistant a degree in health science such as Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHS), Bachelor of Science Physician Assistant (BScPA), Bachelor of Clinical Health Servies (BCHS) or other health science degrees is required. Physician Assistant Degree Program also allow for higher education in master or doctorate program. <br /> <br /> In addition, some period of experience in health care service such as as a Nurse, Paramedic, EMT is also required to join the Physician Assistant Programs. Then, to get the license of physician assistant, the student will go through clinical training that is similar to physician clinical training but in shorter period. Usually, physician assistant has to attend continuing medical education (CME) for every two years and be tested for every six years to renew Physician Assistant Certification.<br /> <br /> <h4>Physician Assistant Salary</h4>According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average Physician Assistant salary is $94,350. A Physician Assistants pay in United States is from $62,030 to $130,020 per year.<br /> <br /> <h3>Nurse Practitioner (NA) vs Physician Assistant (PA)</h3>The most visible difference between the Nurse Practitioner (NA) vs Physician Assistant (PA) is the type of education required. While the physician assistants qualify through a more general medical examination and are not required to complete a residency, the nurse practitioner qualifies through an exam more specific to population of focus, such as pediatrics or geriatrics. Usually, NPs and PAs are both able to diagnose and treat illness in addition to prescribe medication; however, nurse practitioners may have to apply on the state level for certain additional responsibilities, such as prescribing medication.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.medicalbillingcodings.org/2015/01/nursepractitionervsphysicianassistantbestcareer.html" ><img alt="Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant, Which is the Best Career?" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaawM0_T1fzps6X7fUFj-FOt-X7zB3K-zSSaIP6SHQ28mm6dZb1LHsvXA1ieXy0ePQbc5hRq5sySRAz8p7XkRzuJv56lTG1czjq8eFUpJmDslwSLNkv9khTyDCGmVM1q9y_yy44XGFp-o/s400/nursepractitionervsphysicianassistantbestcareer.jpg" /></a></div>Physician Assistants are licensed by the Board of Medicine either directly or under a sub board of the BOM. Nurse Practitioner are licensed by the board of nursing. Depending on the state they may also have to register with the board of medicine for practice agreements.<br /> <br /> Nurse Practitioner holds independent licenses to practice advanced practice nursing. The scope of practice is determined by their training, certification and state BON. Physician Assistant have dependent licenses to practice medicine. The dependent part refers to the scope of practice. In most states the PA may not practice in areas that their supervising physician is not capable of practicing in.<br /> <br /> Both careers give plenty of opportunities to serve humanity and earn a financial satisfied life too. Both have their own benefits and difficulties. If you like to give more care to the patients, nurse practitioner might be the best choice of a career for you. On the other hand, if you like to be more involved in health service or surgery but do not like the big responsibility of a doctor / physician, physician assistant will be the great choice of a career for you. <br /> <br /> We conclude our <u>Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant</u> career comparison on a note that it is hard to decide whether Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant, is the best career. It all depends on each ones personal interests and preferences.</div>

Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant Career and Salary

Compare Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant on career and salary potentials, as to check which is the best career option. Learn schooling requirements, education programs, job opportunities, sal…

Read more »