Billing and Coding: Colon Capsule Endoscopy

This Billing and Coding Article provides billing and coding guidance for Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L38777 Colon Capsule Endoscopy (CCE). Please refer to the LCD for reasonable and necessary requirements. Coding Guidance Notice: It is not appropriate to bill Medicare for services that are not covered (as described by the entire LCD) as if they are covered. When billing for non-covered services, use the appropriate modifier. For the purposes of this Article, ICD-10-CM code Z53.8 indicates that the instrument colonoscopy has been attempted and was incomplete and Z53.09 indicates the procedure is contraindicated when a board certified or board eligible gastroenterologist, a surgeon trained in endoscopy, or a physician with equivalent endoscopic training determined from an evaluation of the patient that optical colonoscopy cannot be safely attempted. Documentation Requirements All documentation must be maintained in the patient's medical record and made available to the contractor upon request. Every page of the record must be legible and include appropriate patient identification information (e.g., complete name, dates of service[s]). The documentation must include the legible signature of the physician or non-physician practitioner responsible for and providing the care to the patient. The submitted medical record must support the use of the selected ICD-10-CM code(s). The submitted CPT/HCPCS code must describe the service performed.