Question

A 40 year-old female has cholelithiasis with chronic cholecystitis. She is in the Ambulatory Surgical Center to have a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A dye was injected to perform an intraoperative cholangiogram. The surgeon who performed the procedure included a separate report with his interpretation of the cholangiogram that indicated there was normal, free flow into the duodenum, with no evidence of filling defects with no stones or strictures seen. What CPT® codes are reported for the professional services of the surgeon?

Answer 1

Answer:

The answers are code 47563, 74300-26

Explanation:

Because the female patient  is having her gallbladder removed along with having a dye injection for an intraoperative  cholangiogram. The cholangiogram is performed to make sure there are no gallstones, tumors or structures causing partial or total obstruction of the flow of dye into the duodenum.

Code 47563 is designated for laparoscopic cholecystectomy with cholangiography and code 74300 describes cholangiography/intraoperative. Since the procedure is performed in the Ambulatory Surgical Center indicating the radiological service will need modifier 26 for the professional service . The surgeon only performed the radiological supervision and interpretation, and did not own the equipment used to perform this service.