General Surgery Coding Alert
Modifier 52 Makes the Case for Bolster Replacement
Question: How should I report replacement of a "mushroom basket" for a PEG tube? I can't find a code for this in CPT. Arkansas Subscriber Answer: A mushroom-shaped basket, or bolster, holds the PEG tube in place on the inside of the stomach wall. Sometimes the physician will need to replace this device, which involves using endoscopy to go back into the stomach. Because this procedure essentially includes a "reduced" version of PEG tube placement, you may describe it using 43246-52 (Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy including esophagus, stomach, and either the duodenum and/or jejunum as appropriate; with directed placement of percutaneous gastrostomy tube; reduced services). Be sure that you include documentation explaining the placement's reduced nature with your claim.
General Surgery Coding Alert
- Cut to the Facts of Wound Repair:
5 Tips for Foolproof Reporting
Apply modifier 59 for same-location, different-severity repairs Coding for wound repairs requires that you consider [...] - Here's What Wound Repair Includes -- and What It Doesn't
Warning: Separate debridement requires -gross contamination- You will often see wound repairs (12001-13160) performed alongside [...] - Meet 3 Requirements for Modifier 22 Success
Provide a comparison to defend additional reimbursement You probably already know that modifier 22 can [...] - Consider These Circumstances for Modifier 22
"Increased" circumstances that might call for modifier 22 include (but are not limited to): - [...] - You Be the Coder:
How Can You Report Tube Removal?
Question: A physician in another city placed a laparoscopic jejunostomy tube one month ago. A [...] - Reader Questions:
Excision Includes Same-Site Biopsy -- Usually
Question: My I report a biopsy code in addition to an excision at the same [...] - Reader Questions:
Surgical Service Includes Visualization
Question: Our surgeon performed an exploratory laparoscopy followed by an open cholecystectomy. I know that [...] - Reader Questions:
Modifier 52 Makes the Case for Bolster Replacement
Question: How should I report replacement of a "mushroom basket" for a PEG tube? I [...] - Reader Questions:
Sigmoidoscopy May Affect Screening Eligibility
Question: In General Surgery Coding Alert Vol. 10, No. 6, pp. 43-46, you advised that [...]
