K56.609 — Unspecified intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to partial versus complete obstruction
ICD-10-CM
Prior Authorization
No Prior Auth Required
Code is covered without prior authorization (high confidence)
Documentation Required
- The medical record must document the medical reasonableness, necessity, and clinical frequency of the diagnostic colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy and be available to the Contractor upon request.
- Documentation must indicate the precise areas scoped and the depth reached during colonoscopy.
- Refer to associated LCD L34614 and Medicare IOM for additional coverage and documentation guidance for colorectal cancer screening procedures.
- This billing and coding article provides guidelines that complement Local Coverage Determination L34415 for CT of the abdomen and pelvis; consult LCD L34415 for specific coverage indications, limitations, and documentation requirements.
Key Coverage Criteria
- Diagnostic colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is covered to directly visualize the lower gastrointestinal tract (colon, rectum, sigmoid) to detect polyps, tumors, or other intestinal lesions.
- Diagnostic colonoscopy is covered when identification of the site of pathology and/or obtaining a biopsy during the procedure is clinically indicated.
- A follow-on screening colonoscopy is covered after a positive covered blood-based biomarker noninvasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test per NCD 210.3, effective 2025-01-01.
- Capsule endoscopy (CPT 91110, 91111 global) is payable under Medicare Part B when performed in office (POS 11), independent diagnostic testing facility (POS 49), or independent clinic (POS 49).
- Technical component codes 91110-TC and 91111-TC are payable under Part B in office (11), IDTF (49), independent clinic (49), federally qualified health center (50), and rural health clinic (72).
- Professional component codes 91110-26 and 91111-26 are payable under Part B in office (11), outpatient hospital (19 and 22), inpatient hospital (21), independent clinic (49), and public health clinic (71).
10 Active Policies
L34614 — Colonoscopy and Sigmoidoscopy-Diagnostic
J05
A56394 — Billing and Coding: Colonoscopy and Sigmoidoscopy-Diagnostic
J05
A57063 — Billing and Coding: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
J09
L33583 — Diagnostic and Therapeutic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
J09
Related Codes
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