General Surgery Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Beware Lap to Open Conversions

Question: I’m reviewing a coder’s work for a surgery case for a ventral hernia (reducible) lap repair converted to open, requiring mesh implantation. The coder is listing 49565, 49568 and 49656-74. Is this correct?

Washington Subscriber Answer: When a surgeon converts a laparoscopic procedure to open, you should code only the open procedure. Your coder claims the [...]
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