Author: Anonymous

              If an NCD does not exist for a particular service/procedure performed on a Medicare patient, who determines coverage?

                A 26-year-old female with a one-year history of a left tympanic membrane perforation has consented to have it repaired. A postauricular incision was made under general anesthesia. Dissection was carried down to the temporalis fascia and a 3 x 3 cm segment of fascia was harvested and satisfactorily desiccated. The tympanic membrane was excised. Using a high speed drill a canaloplasty was performed until the entire annulus could be seen. The ossicular chain was examined, it was found to be freely mobile. The previously harvested skin was trimmed and placed in the anterior canal angle with a slight overlapping over the temporalis fascia. Packing is placed in the ear canal, external incisions are closed, and dressings are applied. What CPT® code is reported?

                A 57-year-old patient with chronic pancreatitis presents to the operating room for a pancreatic duct-jejunum anastomosis by the Puestow-type operation. What CPT® and ICD-10-CM codes are reported for the encounter?

         A patient has a cholecystectomy and a soft tissue lipoma removed during the same operative session. Both specimens were sent to pathology in separate containers for gross and microscopic examination by the pathologist. What CPT® code(s) are reported?

What ICD-10-CM code is reported for elevated blood sugar?

A lab test reveals an excessive level of alcohol in the blood. What ICD-10-CM code is reported?

               What ICD-10-CM code is reported for mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema?

               A CT study of the lumbar spine (L2–L4) was performed with IV contrast in the hospital outpatient radiology department and the interpretation of the images is performed by the radiologist. What CPT® code(s) should be reported by the radiologist who is not an employee of the hospital?

              An 89-year-old patient who has significant partial opacities in the lens of the left eye presents for phacoemulsification and lens implantation. What ICD-10-CM code is reported?

        A patient with AIDS presents for follow up care. An NK (natural killer cell) total count is ordered. What CPT® code(s) is/are reported?