A new year means an update to gastroenterology billing and coding guidelines. Billing and coding errors such as failing to provide adequate documentation, incorrect use of claim modifiers, and failure to adhere to guideline changes often result in a loss of time and revenue due to an increase in claim denials and undercoding.

Gastroenterology billing changes include:

  • K35.20 – Acute appendicitis with generalized peritonitis but no abscess
  • K35.21 – Acute appendicitis with generalized peritonitis and an abscess
  • K35.30 – Acute appendicitis with localized peritonitis but no gangrene or perforation
  • K35.31 – Acute appendicitis with localized peritonitis and gangrene but no perforation
  • K35.32 – Acute appendicitis with perforation and localized peritonitis but no abscess
  • K35.33 – Acute appendicitis with perforation, localized peritonitis, and an abscess
  • K61.31 – Horseshoe abscess
  • K61.39 – Other ischiorectal abscess
  • K82.A1 – Gangrene of the gallbladder in cholecystitis
  • K82.A2 – Perforation of the gallbladder in cholecystitis