Advanced Search

General Surgery Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Modifier 22: Capture Infection's Extra Work

Published on Tue Aug 16, 2011

Question: Our surgeons often encounter complicated recurrent ventral hernia repairs that involve infection. Can we bill for the mesh removal and new mesh placement in addition to the recurrent ventral hernia repair code?Connecticut SubscriberAnswer: Whether the mesh placement is separately chargeable depends on the surgical approach. There is no separate code for mesh removal involved in repair of a recurrent ventral hernia. Do this for open surgery: If the recurrent ventral hernia repair is open, you can bill for the repair and the new mesh placement using two separate codes. Bill for the hernia repair using one of the following codes:49565 -- Repair, recurrent incisional or ventral hernia; reducible49566 -- ... incarcerated or strangulated.Separately bill the mesh placement using +49568 (Implantation of mesh or other prosthesis for open incisional or ventral hernia repair or mesh for closure of debridement for necrotizing soft tissue infection [List separately in addition to code for the [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

General Surgery Coding Alert

View All