Greetings,
Our specialty is neuropsychology. My question involves two codes we usually bill on the same DOS.
In the past with BCBS we have billed either a 96118 (neuropsych testing) and 96120 (neuropsych test admin/w computer) or a 96119 (neuropsych testing by technician)and the 96120 on the same DOS.
Recently, in just the last month the 96120’shave not been paid by BCBS. After a few phone calls and talking with different agents at BCBS, they said there was a recent coding edit that makes the 96120 a mutually exclusive service.
My understanding is this means it cannot be billed in the same DOS as any other procedure.
I wanted to ask though if we could use modifier 59 with either the 96120 or the 96119/96118 and still bill on the same DOS without the code denial. My understanding is the Modifier 59 means the code is a unique and unrelated service.
http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/NationalCorrectCodInitEd/Downloads/modifier59.pdf Your thoughts?
If using modifier 59 would work, does the modifier get attached only to the 96120, the 96119/96118 or both?
Thanks so much
Best,
Dan