General Surgery Coding Alert
Stick With 47379 for Lap. Liver Bx.
A recent You Be the Coder ("What Code for Lap Liver Bx," General Surgery Coding Alert, vol. 10, no. 4, pages 27 and 30) advised that you should report 49321 (Laparoscopy, surgical; with biopsy [single or multiple]), rather than an unlisted procedure code, for laparoscopic liver biopsy. The AMA, however, disagrees. The August 2006 CPT Assistant (page 10) instructs coders to select 47379 (Unlisted laparoscopic procedure, liver) to report laparoscopic liver biopsy. The AMA also reminds, "When reporting an unlisted code to describe a procedure or service, it will be necessary to submit supporting documentation - to provide an adequate description, extent and need for the procedure and the time, effort and equipment necessary to provide the service."
General Surgery Coding Alert
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Stick With 47379 for Lap. Liver Bx.
A recent You Be the Coder ("What Code for Lap Liver Bx," General Surgery Coding [...] - Reader Questions:
Separate Session = Billable Control of Bleeding
Question: I understand that you should include control of bleeding during a surgical procedure as [...] - Reader Questions:
Avoid Cat. I Code for Autologous Plasma Grafts
Question: Is there a CPT code for the use of autologous platelet rich plasma grafts [...] - Reader Questions:
Follow-Up Thrombectomy Calls for 79
Question: A week following creation of an AV fistula, the surgeon had to perform a [...] - Reader Questions:
Coordinate Documentation for In-Office Referrals
Question: For a patient interested in taking the M2A capsule to diagnose her small-bowel pain, [...] - Reader Questions:
Select Fifth Digit for Bed Sore Dx.
Question: Recently, we received a denial for debridement of a decubitus ulcer, coded as 11040. [...] - Reader Questions:
Biopsy Can Be Separate From Mastectomy
Question: If the surgeon performs a breast biopsy, and if frozen section comes back positive, [...]
