General Surgery Coding Alert
Reader Questions:
Exploration/Revision Describes Graft Removal
Published on Mon Apr 03, 2006
Question: Our surgeon excised an infected Gortex dialysis graft from the left arm. Which code should I report for this?
Michigan Subscriber
Answer: You should look to the exploration/revision subsection of CPT under -excision.- The appropriate code is 35903 (Excision of infected graft; extremity).
Because the surgeon is removing the graft due to infection, you should append a diagnosis of 996.62 (Infection and inflammatory reaction due to other vascular device, implant and graft) to 35903. Notes following 996.62 clarify that this diagnosis applies to -arterial graft,- as well as -vascular catheter (arterial) (dialysis) (venous).-
Other Articles in this issue of
General Surgery Coding Alert
- Perfect Your Bariatric Surgery Coding -- You'll Likely Submit More Frequent Claims
Cholecystectomy and/or appendectomy may count as separate procedures Medicare has recently approved coverage for several [...] - Update:
CMS Delivers on Bariatric Surgery Coverage
Benefits are more generous than expected Beginning immediately, you-ll be able to offer a greater [...] - 5 Quick Answers Teach You About Critical Care
Not all ICU patients are critical, and not all critical patients are in the ICU [...] - You Be the Coder:
What's the Status of Post-Op Mesh Removal?
Question: The patient had a hernia repair by another surgeon more than 90 days ago [...] - Clip and Save:
Quick-Reference Critical Care Chart
Make reporting critical care easy with this simple chart. Just check the physician's documented total [...] - Reader Questions:
Exploration/Revision Describes Graft Removal
Question: Our surgeon excised an infected Gortex dialysis graft from the left arm. Which code [...] - Reader Questions:
'En Bloc' Alone Calls for 38100
Question: A patient has undergone en bloc splenectomy. This is the only procedure the surgeon [...] - Reader Questions:
Any Doctor Can Use ED Codes
Question: An emergency department (ED) physician asked our surgeon to see a patient with severe [...] - Reader Questions:
Screening-vs.-Diagnostic Rules Haven't Changed
Question: I read that Medicare has just changed its policy regarding screening vs. diagnostic colonoscopy, [...] - Reader Questions:
Treat All Adenoidectomies With Tonsillectomy the Same
Question: When reporting adenoidectomy with tonsillectomy, does it matter if the adenoidectomy is primary or [...]
View All
