Optometric Billing-92225-Another Word

When looking over optometricmanagement.com this morning, an excerpt from an article caught my eye concerning the 92225 procedure code. According to the article:

"7 DON'T ABUSE EXTENDED OPHTHALMOSCOPY (CPT CODE 92225).

This is the most abused, and audited, procedure code.
Extended ophthalmoscopy is for serious retinal disorders, such as retinal detachment, and requires detailed color drawings with interpretation. Reimbursement for extended ophthalmoscopy has declined sharply and many practitioners prefer to take a photograph for documentation." (http://www.optometricmanagement.com/articleviewer.aspx?articleid=70838)

Here at opticXpress we run the billing department for Stowe Eyecare, in Stowe, VT, which is where we are now located. (If you have never been here...you should visit...trust me) So I went to the data and compared it to what the article said above. Sure enough, reimbursements have declined and my suspicion is because rather than making drawings to support the use of the procedure code, many optometrists are turning to taking photos as it is not only less time consuming and more accurate but makes it much easier to attach it to an Electronic Medical Record.  

Document, Document, Document, Document! That is the key to proper billing...espescially if you are asking your billing department to submit 92225 for you. Don't worry about being audited for using this code if you are taking the time to properly document. 

If you need help with your optometric billing, call opticXpress today!