Coding News and Expert Advice

Coding News and Expert Advice
Empower your coding team with the up-to-date answers from the Academy's coding experts. Our carefully researched responses cover federal and commercial payers and help you improve documentation, submit clean claims and appropriately maximize reimbursement. Not a AAOE member? Join today.
Note: Coding regulations and edits can change often. Academy coding advice is based on current information. Visit aao.org/coding for the most recent updates. Information provided by our coding experts is copyrighted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and intended for individual practice use only.
1-20 of 39 results
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Coding Top 10 - May 2023

MAY 09, 2023 in E/M, CPT, Pediatric/Strabismus, Exams, Retina, Modifiers, Cataract/Anterior Segment, Coding Competency, Coding Top 10

Get trusted answers to your coding questions from the Academy's coding experts, so you can bill and code with confidence.

Comments 0

Views 646

Coding Top 10 - April 2023

APR 11, 2023 in Pediatric/Strabismus, CPT, Retina, Coding Competency, Cataract/Anterior Segment, Exams, Oculofacial, Coding Top 10, E/M, Modifiers

Get trusted answers to your coding questions from the Academy's coding experts, so you can bill and code with confidence.

Comments 0

Views 614

Performing Confrontational Visual Fields

APR 10, 2023 in E/M, Coding Competency, Ask the Expert, Exams

Is it necessary to do confrontational visual fields when coding any level of an exam?

Comments 0

Views 99

Moderate Level Visit for Oculofacial Surgery

APR 10, 2023 in E/M, Exams, Ask the Expert, Oculofacial

Are we able to bill a level 4 evaluation and management E/M (99214) or a comprehensive Eye visit code (92014) for patients that schedule oculofacial surgeries?

Comments 0

Views 40

Glaucoma Problems Addressed at the Encounter

APR 10, 2023 in Exams, Ask the Expert, E/M, Coding Competency, Glaucoma

I was told if patients have two different stages of glaucoma — moderate in one eye, severe in the other eye — this counts as two problems. Is that correct?

Comments 0

Views 51

Documenting a Plan of Care

APR 10, 2023 in Ask the Expert, E/M, Exams

We often see lack of documentation for a glaucoma plan of care. Most of our physicians use the abbreviation “CPM” as the plan of care. Is this abbreviation (and only this abbreviation) sufficient for moderate risk of patient management?

Comments 0

Views 72

Atropine Therapy

MAR 10, 2023 in Exams, Pediatric/Strabismus, E/M, Ask the Expert, Coding Competency

How do we bill for atropine therapy?

Comments 0

Views 34

Evaluation and Management Resources

MAR 09, 2023 in Ask the Expert, Coding Competency, E/M, Exams

I am a comprehensive ophthalmologist in a rural setting, and I only use Eye visit codes but would like to start using Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes. Where should I go to find resources on how to use E/M codes?

Comments 0

Views 146

Coding Top 10 - January 2023

JAN 20, 2023 in Exams, Oculofacial, Coding Competency, Cataract/Anterior Segment, Modifiers, Ask the Expert, E/M, Coding Top 10, Retina, Testing Services, CPT

Get trusted answers to your coding questions from the Academy's coding experts, so you can bill and code with confidence.

Comments 0

Views 632

E/M Guideline Changes

JAN 19, 2023 in E/M, Ask the Expert, Exams

It is December 2022, and our office just realized evaluation and management (E/M) office coding no longer requires specific history or exam components. We are only using Eye Visit codes. Now we want to use the higher E/M level 4 and 5 codes. Where should we start?

Comments 0

Views 222

Coding Top 10 - December 2022

DEC 01, 2022 in Coding Top 10, Testing Services, Coding Competency, Exams, E/M, Retina, Cataract/Anterior Segment, Oculofacial, Ask the Expert, CPT, Modifiers

Get trusted answers to your coding questions from the Academy's coding experts, so you can bill and code with confidence.

Comments 0

Views 533

Lengthy Inpatient Consultation

NOV 30, 2022 in Exams, CPT, E/M, Ask the Expert

I am a pediatric ophthalmologist. While on call at our local hospital, I provided a lengthy inpatient consultation for a Medicare adult with preseptal cellulitis. After discharge from the hospital, the patient will follow up with the comprehensive ophthalmologist. What is th…

Comments 0

Views 29

Billing Consultation Codes When Medicare is Secondary

MAY 13, 2021 in E/M, Ask the Expert

The primary insurance is a commercial plan that recognizes consultation codes. Medicare Part B is the secondary insurance. Can we bill a consult code?

Comments 0

Views 269

Billing Eye Visit Codes to Commercial Payers

MAY 13, 2021 in Ask the Expert, E/M

Medicare accepted eye visit code with medical diagnosis, but the commercial plan as secondary insurance, denied the claims. How do I proceed?

Comments 0

Views 275

Practice Telemedicine Protocol

MAY 13, 2021 in Ask the Expert, E/M, Telemedicine

An evaluation of telemedicine protocol

Comments 0

Views 167

Corneal Laceration - Coding for Ocular Trauma case study

APR 20, 2021 in Trauma Coding, ICD-10, Exams, Ask the Expert, CPT, E/M

First day on the job at a home improvement store, an 18-year-old cuts the metal band around layers of stacked wood. The metal band flipped lacerating his cheek to forehead, including eye on the left side of his face.

Comments 0

Views 592

Canalicular Laceration - Coding for Ocular Trauma case study

APR 20, 2021 in Exams, Trauma Coding, CPT, ICD-10, E/M, Ask the Expert

Exam revealed right lower canalicular laceration from wire hidden in lawn.

Comments 0

Views 234

Commotio Retina Involving Macula - Coding for Ocular Trauma case study

APR 20, 2021 in Ask the Expert, CPT, E/M, ICD-10, Trauma Coding, Exams

8-year-old nephew of retina specialist was hit in left eye with soccer ball. Immediately complained of decreased vision.

Comments 0

Views 244

Prescription Definition for Medical Decision Making

MAR 05, 2021 in Ask the Expert, E/M, Exams

Q: Will refraction or contact lens prescription count as moderate for medical decision-making?

Comments 0

Views 876

Moderate Decision Making for Medically Necessary Surgery

MAR 05, 2021 in Exams, Ask the Expert, E/M

Q: When any surgery is determined to be medically necessary, such as cataract surgery or entropion, but the patient defers surgery, are we still able to meet moderate medical decision-making?

Comments 0

Views 385

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