General Surgery Coding Alert

Ignore CPT 2010 changes and risk choosing the wrong code.With a  (revised) symbol marking most relevant hemorrhoidectomy codes and several new text notes in CPT 2010, you need to rethink your coding for these procedures this year.Implement the following four tips to help you choose the proper hemorrhoidectomy code and make sure you capture all the pay your practice deserves.Tip 1: Let Method Drive Your Code ChoiceGeneral surgeons have lots of ways to treat hemorrhoids, and one thing that hasn't changed in CPT 2010 is that you need to consider the method when you select the code.Capture ligature services: CPT provides the following three codes for hemorrhoid ligation, which involves tying off the blood vessel to restrict blood flow:• 46221 -- Hemorrhoidectomy, internal, by rubber band ligation(s)• 46945 -- ... by ligation other than rubber band; single hemorrhoid column/group• 46946 -- ... by ligation other than rubber band; 2 or more hemorrhoid columns/groups.During [...]