The lines

The same CPT code appears twice

A repeated code is a question, not an automatic error. Two lines can be the same service posted twice. They can also be two units, a facility bill and a professional bill, or the same code on two different dates.

Check these fields before you call it a duplicate

• Date of service. The same code on two days can be two visits.
• Units. One line with quantity 2 is not the same as two identical lines.
• Modifier, if one is printed. It can mark a side, a second procedure, or a distinct service.
• Who sent the bill. The hospital and the doctor often bill the same day under different accounts.

What to write when the lines still match

If the date, code, units, and billing name all match, ask for a written review of those two lines. Name the code, the date, and both amounts. Ask them not to send the account to collections while they explain the difference or remove one line. Ask for a corrected statement.

This is educational. A matching pair of lines is a reason to ask, not proof the charge is wrong.