General Surgery Coding Alert

Coming Next Month:

More CPT 2006 Information

Published on Sun Jan 01, 2006

Look to the February 2006 General Surgery Coding Alert for even more valuable information on the CPT 2006 changes that will affect your general surgery practice most in the coming year. We-ll cover topics including important revisions and additions to integumentary procedures 15000-15431 (skin replacement surgery and skin substitutes), new laparoscopic procedure codes (44186-44188, 45395-45499), conscious sedation services, and more.

General Surgery Coding Alert

Bariatric Surgery Code Overhaul:
The Laparoscopic Banding Code You've Waited for is Here
"Apply modifier 52 with 43770 for placement of an individual component

After years of reporting an [...]

Medicare Slashes Conversion Factor 4.4 Percent for 2006
Congress could still act to prevent cuts

You can expect your payments from Medicare to shrink [...]

Now's the Time to Update Your Consult Coding
Mandated services mean modifier 32

CPT 2006's deletion of follow-up inpatient (99261-99263) and confirmatory (99271-99275) consultations [...]

4 Rules Help You Take the Mess Out Of Mesh
Modifier 22 is the choice for difficult removal during hernia repair

Mesh placement may be common [...]

Rest Home Coding Is Easier Than You Think
Lack of medical component identifies place-of-service 33

You may be tempted to report either nursing home [...]

You Be the Coder:
Is Control of Bleeding Bundled?
Question: Can we gain additional reimbursement if our surgeon performs a flexible sigmoidoscopy with control [...]

READER QUESTIONS:
Removal Includes Biopsy
Question: Can I not report a biopsy (45380) on the same day as removal (for [...]

READER QUESTIONS:
Redo Nissen Calls for New Nissen Code
Question: The surgeon performed a redo laparoscopic Nissen, but the original surgery was more than [...]

READER QUESTIONS:
Stick With 99218-99220 for 8 Hours or Fewer
Question: We have a long-standing argument in our office regarding the proper use of observation [...]

READER QUESTIONS:
Separate Documentation Important for Modifier 62
Question: Recently, our surgeon placed a PEG tube during the same session that a gastroenterologist [...]

Coming Next Month:
More CPT 2006 Information
Look to the February 2006 General Surgery Coding Alert for even more valuable information on [...]

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General Surgery Coding Alert

More CPT 2006 Information

General Surgery Coding Alert

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