General Surgery Coding Alert

You may need to appeal to make your case and get proper payment.When your general surgeon performs more than one hernia repair during the same session, even in different anatomical areas, figuring out the proper coding can stump even the best coders. Test your know-how with this real-life case study.Review the Surgical CaseScenario: A general surgeon performed an initial laparoscopic incisional hernia repair with mesh insertion for a reducible hernia. During the same laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon also performed an initial inguinal hernia repair for a strangulated hernia.Coding dilemma: "Our general surgeons perform multiple hernia repairs. We are not getting reimbursement back for the second repair in many cases. I know that many insurance companies will not reimburse back when it is done through the same incision, but many of ours are done through separate incisions. What is the best way to code these to get reimbursement?" asks Stacey Sands, [...]