Janet and all--

CPT or Current Procedural Terminology is a yearly publication of the
American Medical Association.  As such the codes are intended to be
descriptive of services provided by physicians.  When other health
professionals desire to describe their services, they should probably
have a professional organization back their use of standardized
descriptive codes, rather than using the codes put out by the AMA.

Anyone wishing to obtain a copy of the CPT 1999 edition can do so by
calling the AMA at 800 621-8335.

I don't know if there has been any effort to specifically develop
billing or service codes for LC work, but it seems like it would be a
worthwhile endeavor.  Having worked in my DH's office doing insurance
billing etc, I know that there are issues of fraud when one uses codes
which are intended to convey that the physician provided the service,
but it was actually done by someone other than the MD/DO.  I'd be really
cautious in using CPT codes unless you are a physician.

ICD9 codes are a universal diagnostic coding system that is designed to
standardize the classification of diseases and conditions treated,
causes of morbidity and mortality, etc around the world.  It is
appropriate for LC's to use these codes in describing the problems which
lead to LC consultation.  I could get the ICD9 book from my husband's
office next week and possibly post some of the more frequently occuring
codes if there is interest.  I haven't seen the Medela listing, so don't
know what might be on that.

Melinda Hoskins, MS, RN, LC2B
Of a Nurturing Nature
Educational and Support Services for the Childbearing Family

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html