Billing and Coding: Nasal Punctum-Nasolacrimal Duct Dilation and Probing with
or without Irrigation

This article gives guidance for billing, coding, and other guidelines in
relation to local coverage policy L34171Nasal Punctum-Nasolacrimal Duct
Dilation and Probing with or without Irrigation.

**Specific coding guidelines:**  
  
CPT codes 68801, 68810-68815 and 68840 have a 10-day global period. An
evaluation and management (E&M) code is not separately payable on the same day
as these procedures unless a separately identifiable service is provided and
documented in which case, it would be appropriate to attach modifier -25 to
the E&M code.  
  
CPT codes 68801, 68810-68815 and 68840 are unilateral codes and must be
submitted with a site modifier (LT, RT, or -50). Only one of these modifiers
may be billed on a claim line. Bilateral services must be billed with a -50
modifier, rather than RT and LT modifier.  
  
Dilation of nasolacrimal punctum (CPT code 68801) will be paid only once per
eye regardless of the number of times the punctum is dilated.  
  
No separate reimbursement is made for the dilation of nasolacrimal punctum
(CPT code 68801) when performed on the same day and same side as the probing
procedures (CPT codes 68810-68815 or 68840). If these are billed together for
the same side on the same date of service only CPT codes 68810, 68811, 68815
or 68840 will be paid.

CPT 68810, 68811 or 68815 are primarily pediatric procedures, and are only
rarely required in adults, whereas CPT 68840 is more commonly performed in the
adult population. Providers with unusually frequent billing of 68810 may be
subject to review. The submitted CPT code must reflect the true extent of a
reasonable and necessary procedure. Thus, if it is only medically necessary to
dilate the puncta or probe the canaliculi it would be inappropriate to submit
68810, for example. Claims for 68810 will be downcoded to 68840 or 68801, or
denied if the medical record fails to demonstrate medical necessity and
adequate documentation according to the requirements of this policy.



**General Guidelines for Claims submitted to Part A or Part B MAC:**

Procedure codes may be subject to National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI)
edits or OPPS packaging edits. Refer to NCCI and OPPS requirements prior to
billing Medicare. For services requiring a referring/ordering physician, the
name and NPI of the referring/ordering physician must be reported on the
claim. A claim submitted without a valid ICD-10-CM diagnosis code will be
returned to the provider as an incomplete claim under Section 1833(e) of the
Social Security Act. The diagnosis code(s) must best describe the patient's
condition for which the service was performed. For diagnostic tests, report
the result of the test if known; otherwise the symptoms prompting the
performance of the test should be reported.



**Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage (ABN) Modifier Guidelines**

An ABN may be used for services which are likely to be non-covered, whether
for medical necessity or for other reasons. Refer to CMS Publication 100-04,
Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 30, for complete instructions.

Effective from April 1, 2010, non-covered services should be billed with
modifier -GA, -GX, -GY, or -GZ, as appropriate.

The -GA modifier ("Waiver of Liability Statement Issued as Required by Payer
Policy") should be used when physicians, practitioners, or suppliers want to
indicate that they anticipate that Medicare will deny a specific service as
not reasonable and necessary and they do have an ABN signed by the beneficiary
on file. Modifier GA applies only when services will be denied under
reasonable and necessary provisions, sections 1862(a)(1), 1862(a)(9), 1879(e),
or 1879(g) of the Social Security Act. Effective April 1, 2010, Part A MAC
systems will automatically deny services billed with modifier GA. An ABN, Form
CMS-R-131, should be signed by the beneficiary to indicate that he/she accepts
responsibility for payment. The -GA modifier may also be used on assigned
claims when a patient refuses to sign the ABN and the latter is properly
witnessed. For claims submitted to the Part A MAC, occurrence code 32 and the
date of the ABN is required.



Modifier GX ("Notice of Liability Issued, Voluntary Under Payer Policy")
should be used when the beneficiary has signed an ABN, and a denial is
anticipated based on provisions other than medical necessity, such as
statutory exclusions of coverage or technical issues. An ABN is not required
for these denials, but if non-covered services are reported with modifier GX,
will automatically be denied services.



The -GZ modifier should be used when physicians, practitioners, or suppliers
want to indicate that they expect that Medicare will deny an item or service
as not reasonable and necessary and they have not had an ABN signed by the
beneficiary. If the service is statutorily non-covered, or without a benefit
category, submit the appropriate CPT/HCPCS code with the -GY modifier. An ABN
is not required for these denials, and the limitation of liability does not
apply for beneficiaries. Services with modifier GY will automatically deny.

**Documentation Requirements**

The patient's medical record should include but is not limited to:

  * The assessment of the patient by the ordering provider as it relates to the complaint of the patient for that visit,
  * Relevant medical history
  * Results of pertinent tests/procedures
  * Signed and dated office visit record/operative report (Please note that all services ordered or rendered to Medicare beneficiaries must be signed.)

**For claims submitted to the Part B MAC:**  
  
Claims for Nasal Punctum/Nasolacrimal Duct Dilation and Probing with or
without Irrigation services are payable under Medicare Part B in the following
places of service:

  * CPT codes 68801, 68810 and 68840 are payable in the following places of service: office (11), assisted living facility (13), inpatient hospital (21), outpatient hospital (22), emergency room (23), ambulatory surgical center (24), skilled nursing facility (Part A stay) (31), nursing facility (not in a Part A stay)(32), custodial care facility (33), independent clinic (49).  
  

  * CPT codes 68811 and 68815 are payable in the following places of service: office (11), inpatient hospital (21), outpatient hospital (22), emergency room (23), ambulatory surgical center (24), and independent clinic (49).

**For claims submitted to the Part A MAC:**  
  
_Hospital Inpatient Claims:_

  * The hospital should report the patient's principal diagnosis in Form Locator (FL) 67 of the UB-04. _The principal diagnosis is the condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for this admission._
  * _The hospital enters ICD-10-CM codes for up to eight additional conditions in FLs 67A-67Q if they co-existed at the time of admission or developed subsequently, and which had an effect upon the treatment or the length of stay. It may not duplicate the principal diagnosis listed in FL 67._
  * For inpatient hospital claims, the admitting diagnosis is required and should be recorded in FL 69. (See CMS Publication 100-04, _Medicare Claims Processing Manual_ , Chapter 25, Section 75 for additional instructions.)

_Hospital Outpatient Claims:_

  * The hospital should report the full ICD-10-CM code for the diagnosis shown to be chiefly responsible for the outpatient services in FL 67. If no definitive diagnosis is made during the outpatient evaluation, the patient's symptom is reported. If the patient arrives without a referring diagnosis, symptom or complaint, the provider should report an ICD-10-CM code for Persons Without Reported Diagnosis Encountered During Examination and Investigation of Individuals and Populations (Z00.00-Z13.9).
  * The hospital enters the full ICD-10-CM codes in FLs 67A-67Q for up to eight other diagnoses that co-existed in addition to the diagnosis reported in FL 67.

**Other Comments:**

  * For claims submitted to the Part A MAC: This coverage determination also applies within states outside the primary
  * geographic jurisdiction with facilities that have nominated CGS Administrators, LLC to process their claims.
  * Bill type codes only apply to providers who bill these services to the Part A MAC. Bill type codes do not apply to physicians, other professionals and suppliers who bill these services to the carrier or Part B MAC.
  * Limitation of liability and refund requirements apply when denials are likely, whether based on medical necessity or other coverage reasons. The provider/supplier must notify the beneficiary in writing, prior to rendering the service, if the provider/supplier is aware that the test, item or procedure may not be covered by Medicare. The limitation of liability and refund requirements do not apply when the test, item or procedure is statutorily excluded, has no Medicare benefit category or is rendered for screening purposes.
  * For outpatient settings other than CORFs, references to "physicians" throughout this policy include non-physicians, such as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and physician assistants. Such non-physician practitioners, with certain exceptions, may certify, order and establish the plan of care for Nasal Punctum-Nasolacrimal Duct Dilation and Probing with or without Irrigation services as authorized by State law. (See Sections 1861[s][2] and 1862[a][14] of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act; 42 CFR, Sections 410.74, 410.75, 410.76 and 419.22; 58 FR 18543, April 7, 2000.)