Question: What measurements are used when determining the size of the adjacent tissue transfer after a partial mastectomy?
New York Subscriber
Answer: Adjacent tissue transfer codes use measurements in square centimeters (sq cm). If the operative note includes information about the size of the tissue transfer, then you will use that measurement to determine the correct code.
To report an adjacent tissue transfer following a partial mastectomy, you’ll assign 14000 (Adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement, trunk; defect 10 sq cm or less) if the defect’s size measures 10 sq cm or less, or 14001 (… defect 10.1 sq cm to 30.0 sq cm) if the defect measures 10.1 to 30.0 sq cm.
If the defect measures 30.1 to 60.0 sq cm, you’ll assign 14301 (Adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement, any area; defect 30.1 sq cm to 60.0 sq cm). Lastly, you’ll assign +14302 (… each additional 30.0 sq cm, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)) in conjunction with 14301 for a defect that measures greater than 60.0 sq cm.
Note: Add-on code +14302 is reported for each 30 sq cm beyond 60.0 sq cm, even if the additional defect size doesn’t meet the full 30 sq cm. For example, if a defect size measured 95.0 sq cm, you’d report the following codes:
Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Development Editor, AAPC
