October 19, 2017
Question:
Can I bill 43191 for the rigid esophagoscopy (or 43200 for a flexible esophagoscopy) performed at the same operative session as the glossectomy (eg, 41150)? I do this to map out the tumor for removal and make sure there are no other tumors that may have occurred since I saw the patient a week before.
Answer:
No. A “scout” or “mapping” diagnostic endoscopy is included in the definitive procedure performed on the same anatomic structure at the same operative session in the situation you describe.
*This response is based on the best information available as of 10/19/17.
