Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Part B Coding Coach:

Converting Laparoscopic Cancer Surgery to Open? Read These Tips Before You Code

This Ob-gyn case study will show you how to properly convert your coding. If your ob-gyn converts a laparoscopic to an open procedure, your coding for endometrial cancer surgeries can drastically transform. Follow these three steps to ward against denials. Review This Op Note Preoperative diagnosis: Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. Postoperative diagnosis: Same as above, but greater than 50 percent myometrial invasion, pathology pending. Operation performed: Laparoscopic assisted transvaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) with bilateral salpingooophorectomy, laparotomy with pelvic and periaortic node dissection, partial omentectomy, pelvic washings. Procedure: Exam of the pelvic organs revealed an 8-week-size uterus. The right and left ovaries appear to be within normal limits. The ob-gyn found no evidence of excrescences or signs of metastatic disease in the lower pelvis along the bowel or serosa, nor did he discover evidence of metastatic disease in the upper abdomen, liver and dome of the diaphragm. He then performed a dissection. [...]
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