Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Find out what circumstances justify which appendectomy code.If you think appendectomy always comes bundled with other procedures, think again. You can separately report appendectomy depending on what the situation calls for. Missing your appendectomy codes could cost you about $84- $860 in payout. Bust these 3 myths to arm yourself against misinformation and get that deserved reimbursement.Myth 1: Physicians Removing a 'Healthy' Appendix Warrant PaymentReality: If your surgeon performs removal of a healthy appendix, most payers will not pay for the service separately. You will have to go through some tiring paperwork (i.e., op report) to prove that an appendectomy your surgeon performed during the same session as another procedure was medically necessary.Appendectomies during the course of a more extensive abdominal procedure are fairly common. Usually, the surgeon performs the procedure as a precautionary measure since he already has the patient's abdomen open and removing the appendix eliminates a potential [...]