CMS Proposes Payment Changes to Endoscopic Sinus Codes

Endoscopic Sinus CodesThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing major payment changes to sinus endoscopy services. The 2020 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule (page 53) includes the following excerpt:

What Does This Mean for Physicians?

This means CMS is looking to apply the multiple endoscopy rules, as are found with colonoscopy endoscopic sinus codes, when reimbursing for sinus endoscopy services. (You can find more information as to how the multiple endoscopy rules for endoscopic sinus that are handled when determining the reimbursement for colonoscopies in MLN Matters article MM7587.)

Form an Opinion

All these years, while colonoscopies have had the family of scopes and multiple endoscopy rules for payment, nasal endoscopies have not, and it always felt right to me. To comment on CMS’ PFS proposed rule, I had to think why it was appropriate for colonoscopies and not for nasal endoscopies. My reasoning is below:

Nasal endoscopies are different in nature from colonoscopies. The base scope and multiple endoscopies for the colonoscopies is based on scopes performed on a long, linear-like structure, with each different procedure going further into the linear structure and/or removing polyps by different methods.

The sinus endoscopies are not progressively performed on linear structures — they are performed on different parts of the head; and the surgeon does not go through one sinus to get to another sinus. Going through a structure, such as a middle turbinate, is bundled into the nasal endoscopy. Although sinus endoscopies are on a family of sinuses and are scopes, they do not equate to the family of colonoscopies which are linear in nature.

Additionally, the base scope indicated in the proposed rule, CPT 31231 Nasal endoscopy, diagnostic, unilateral or bilateral (separate procedure), is both a separate procedure and bundled in all other functional endoscopic sinus codes. This means that the diagnostic nasal endoscopy is never paid with any other functional nasal endoscopies.

And, finally, nasal endoscopies are performed on one or both sides of the head. Not only is there not a linear relationship, but there is a 3D relationship between any and all nasal endoscopies being performed. As a result, one can conclude that the same rules, pricing nasal endoscopies like colonoscopies, should not be applied.

Tell CMS What You Think

It is important for as many otolaryngologists to comment on the proposed fee schedule as possible. Send comments on the proposed rule for the 2020 PFS via:

  • Electronically. Go to www.regulations.gov and follow the “Submit a comment” instructions.
  • By regular mail. Mail written comments to: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1715-P, P.O. Box 8016, Baltimore, MD 21244-8016.
  • By express or overnight mail. Send written comments to: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1715-P, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

Comments must be received by CMS no later than 5 p.m. on Sept. 25, 2019, to be considered in the 2020 PFS final rule.

For More Information: https://www.aapc.com/blog/48196-cms-proposes-payment-changes-to-endoscopic-sinus-codes/