General Surgery Coding Alert
Placement of Metallic Localization Clip
Tennessee Subscriber
Answer: The CPT 2002 manual introduces add-on 19295 (image guided placement, metallic localization clip, percutaneous, during breast biopsy [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]), which reports the placement of a clip so the mass can be located more easily if more treatment is required.
Although CPT 2002 instructs surgeons to use this code in conjunction with 19102 (biopsy of breast; percutaneous, needle core, using imaging guidance), a later article in CPT Assistant indicates that an error had been made and that 19295 is intended for use with 19103 (... percutaneous, automated vacuum assisted or rotating biopsy device, using imaging guidance), a more extensive procedure that is performed for microcalcification and other small defects. The procedure described in 19102 is more invasive and is performed when the lesion or lump is easily located.
General Surgery Coding Alert
- Differentiate Thoracic Procedures To Ensure Proper Payment
Coding for thoracic procedures involving thoracotomy, which requires opening the patient's chest, and thoracoscopy, a [...] - Office Protocols Ensure Proper Billing Procedures
Surgery practices require protocols that guide the entire coding, billing and reimbursement process. Such protocols [...] - You Be the Coder:
Modified Radical Mastectomy
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Reader Question:
Placement of Metallic Localization Clip
Question: When is it appropriate to report 19295?
Tennessee Subscriber
Answer: The CPT 2002 manual introduces add-on [...] - Reader Question:
Insertion of J-P Drain
Question: The patient had partial mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. Six months later, she [...] - Reader Question:
Atypical Hyperplasia of Breast
Question: I have been using ICD-9 code 611.1 for atypical hyperplasia of the breast, but [...] - Reader Question:
Complications During a Procedure
Question: During lysis of adhesions, the patients bowel was inadvertently nicked. Should we report this [...] - Reader Question:
Excision of Single Varicose Vein
Question: The surgeon notes a 5-mm well-circumscribed blue firm mass palpable within the varicose vein [...] - Reader Question:
Tourniquet Time and Modifier -22
Question: We did a below-knee amputation on a patient. The operative report states that the [...] - Reader Question:
Axillary Lump Diagnosis
Question: I cannot find a diagnosis code that accurately reports an axillary lump. Should 611.72 [...] - Correction:
Mammograms
General Surgery Coding Alert, October 2001, page 77, notes that three new ICD-9 mammogram codes [...]
