Ask Dr. Z

I have a question about the EP study with the ablation. Your cardiology coding book said the physicians don’t have to do a complete study when it is not necessary. Do you have to document a reason the complete study wasn’t done in the report? If not, do you bill with the reduce service modifier? The reason for my question is I was told by an EP consultant that I must have the reason the complete study was not done in the report to bill the ablation without a reduce service modifier for the incomplete EP study. I would like to know your opinion on this as to what a good documentation policy should be regarding this.