Coding Corner Question

As the new recovery audit contractors (RAC) begin their audits of Medicare claims, it is even more important that your billers know how to bill charges correctly. If you aren’t sure if your billers are prepared for the RAC, have them take this quiz—or take it yourself to test your own knowledge.

1. True or false: You can bill and report separately for local anesthetic medication that is mixed with the injected medication (steroid).
   1. True
   2. False
2. A patient is coming in for a scheduled injection for pain in his knees. The rheumatologist drains the fluid in both knees and gives two injections of Kenalog in the knees. How is this coded?
   1. 20610-LT-1, 20610-RT-50-1
   2. 20610-50-2, 20610-50-1
   3. 20610-50-1 or 20610-LT-1, 20610-RT-1
3. True or false: A patient is coming in for her scheduled injection for pain in her knees. The rheumatologist drains the fluid in both knees and gives two injections of Kenalog. The physician speaks to patient, takes a brief history, and bills for an evaluation and management visit. This is the correct billing for this patient encounter.
   1. True
   2. False
4. A patient presents to the rheumatologist’s office and the provider performs two trigger point injections—one in the right forearm, another in the right humerus area—and then performs two additional trigger point injections—one the left calf and the other on the left thigh. How would this be reported?
   1. 20550, 20551, 20552
   2. 20552-LT, 20553-RT
   3. 20553
   4. 20553×4

Click here for the answers.