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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

CPT® 2015:
Save Your Practice By Shaping Up Your Spinal Procedure Reporting
Sacroplasty codes will now be inclusive of imaging guidance. You will very soon need to r... Read more
Modifier Use:
Prepare Your Practice To Judiciously Use Modifier 59 In 2015
CMS introduces new options for some situations in 2015. You have been heavily relying upo... Read more
ICD-10:
Revise Codes To Rejuvenate your Coding For Common Intervertebal Disorders
Regions guide your coding for disc displacement, degeneration, disorders with myelopathy... Read more
Reader Question:
Check Payer Policies for 20936 and 20930
Question: We have billed multiple claims to Medicare for spinal fusions and they are ... Read more
Reader Question:
Code Aspen Spinous Process Fixation System as Unlisted Procedure
Question: Our physician has documented Lanx’s Aspen Spinous Process Fixation.... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Watch Before You Submit Modifier 22 for TON Block
Question: Our surgeon did a third occipital nerve block with a C2-C3 intra-articular ... Read more
CPT® 2015:
Ace Your Sacroiliac Arthrodesis Coding By Adopting New Code
Find out what your physician needs to include for complete documentation. You have reason... Read more
Revisit Basics Of Sacroiliac Joint Procedures
Sacroiliac joint: The sacroiliac joint is actually a paired joint, one on each side, whe... Read more
News You Can Use:
CMS Proposes Cut Down On Global Periods
You can anticipate a potential to eliminate disparities for E/M payments in global perio... Read more
ICD-10:
Laterality Is Key For Sciatica Coding
Don’t forget to confirm lumbago with sciatica. ICD-10 will offer more specific c... Read more
Reader Question:
Check Catheter Retention Time Before You Submit 62311 or 62319
Question: What are the major differences between two catheter use codes 62311 and 6... Read more
Reader Question:
Submit Neurolysis Codes for Rhizotomy
Question: Our physician used radiofrequency for neurolysis of the greater occipital... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Turn To +64495 for Third and Additional Levels
Question: Our physician administers injections into paravertebral facet joints. The... Read more
2015 Update:
Reconfigure How You Report Craniotomy And Craniectomy In 2015
Make note of codes that you need to delete from your list. It’s now time to upda... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Answer These Top 5 Questions To Ease Your EEG Reporting
Check if your physician documents extended or long-term recording. You may be missing ... Read more
ICD-10:
You Will Have 3-Digit ICD-10 Option When Coding Multiple Sclerosis
Look at associated symptoms until your physician gets to the final diagnosis.  Th... Read more
More About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, which leads to a... Read more
Coding Answers:
Follow This Expert Advice To Enhance Your Knowledge For EEG Reporting
Confirm if your physician did the EEG recordings during sleep. Reporting EEG? You can ... Read more
Reader Question:
Be Confident To Report Nerve Conduction with Electromyography
Question: Can we report nerve conduction studies with electromyography? Are modifie... Read more
Reader Question:
Report Open Approach for Gelfoam Epidural Repair
Question: Our physician used a piece of gelfoam to block a lumbar dural tear. How c... Read more
Reader Question:
Debridement May Be Bundled In 63688
Question: Our physician removed two leads and a pulse generator due to the patient&... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Nerve Root Stimulation Is Inclusive In 63282
Question: Our doctor did a bilateral decompressive laminectomy at the L1 and L2 alo... Read more
Epidural Adhesiolysis:
Top 3 Tips Help You Steer Your Way To Clean Claims
Check with your payer before you report endoscopic procedure.  You won’t fi... Read more
Learn These Epidural Adhesions Basics
Epidural scarring and adhesions: Adhesions in the epidural space are caused by scarring.... Read more
ICD-10:
Look For One-To-One Match For Spinal Nerve Root Injuries
You have no options if your physician does not document the region of injury. Your tra... Read more
Coding Update:
Follow These 5 Tips To Ease Your Subsequent Hospital Care Coding
Incorporating each of these steps into your coding might better your practice’s re... Read more
Reader Question:
Code Lumbar Sympathetic Chain Block With 64520
Question: Our provider does a sympathetic block for two different patients on the s... Read more
Reader Question:
Distinguish 22852 and 20680 for Instrument Removal
Question: Patient had a TLIF/laminectomy. Our surgeon removed the patient’s p... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Confirm Endoscopy for Discectomy
Question: Our surgeon performed a right L3-L4 lateral transforaminal discectomy with mic... Read more
Stereotactic Surgery:
Follow These 5 Tips To Safeguard Your Stereotactic Surgery Reporting
Good advice: Keep a count on lesions and not sessions. Challenged with multiple lesion... Read more
ICD-10:
Top 5 Questions Help You Refurbish Your Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Coding
ICD-10 offers new terminology and specific codes. When selecting a diagnosis for refle... Read more
Modifiers:
Keep Denials At Bay By Following These 3 Tips For Modifier 57 Use
Append modifier 57 when same physician provides E/M service and performs procedure. Modif... Read more
ICD-10:
Find The Right Answers To Test Your Understanding Of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
You have a one-to-one match for reflex sympathetic dystrophy of sites other than limbs. ... Read more
Reader Question:
Fall Back On 61783 for O-Arm System
Question: What CPT® code can we submit for the use of the O-Arm system during s... Read more
Reader Question:
Earn For Critical Care Additional Services in ER
Question: Our physician spends a total of 115 minutes caring exclusively for a crit... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Get Your Payment for Follow Up With 62272
Question: Our physician placed a lumbar drain and left the drain intact for several... Read more
Surgery Coding:
Never Miss These 5 Add-On Codes in Cranial Procedures Billing
Avoid denials by avoiding modifier 51 with +69990 or +61781. You typically report cran... Read more
ICD-10:
How to Navigate Multiple Options for Cerebral Edema in ICD-10
Duration of unconsciousness is your main guide. ICD-9 offers a single code for cerebral e... Read more
Test Coding:
Do Not Fall Prey to Questionable Billing for Electrodiagnostic Testing
Use justification when you append modifier 59 and 25.  The spotlight is on electr... Read more
Reader Question:
ICD-10 May Not Offer One-To-One Match
Question: What is the correct ICD-9 code to use for the following conditions? ... Read more
Reader Question:
Turn To 64493 for Lumbar Pars Injection
Question: For a patient who is diagnosed with lumbar pars defect, can we report cod... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Beware the Bundle in 62311 and 27096
Question: Our physician did an L5-S1 epidural steroid injection and then he did and... Read more
CCI 20.1:
Learn How Latest Coding Edits for 64615 and 64616 Affect Your Practice
Modifier indicator changes from 0 to 1 for bundle in some EMG/nerve injection services. ... Read more
ICD-10:
Test Your Knowledge for Bacterial Meningitis Codes with This Quiz
Keep watch: ICD-10 offers new code descriptors. ICD-10 has a one-to-match for most cod... Read more
Subtemporal Decompression:
3 Steps Demystify Your Subtemporal Decompression Claims
Append modifier 50 for bilateral procedures. Do not miss out on an easy code for subte... Read more
Common Indications for Subtemporal Decompression
Your surgeon may attempt a subtemporal decompression in a patient with increased intracr... Read more
5 Bacterial meningitis Answers Gauge Your ICD-10 2014 Skills
See how your answers to the quiz match with the experts’. Have you nailed down p... Read more
Reader Question:
Be Specific For Craniotomy Bone Flap
Question: Our surgeon did a burr hole procedure for excision of a cyst in the brain... Read more
Reader Question:
Submit 63685 for SCS Insertion and Replacement
Question: Our physician did a repositioning of spinal cord stimulator (SCS) in a pa... Read more
Reader Question:
Earn For Spinal Devices and Grafts
Question: In a patient with a postoperative Diagnosis of HNP/stenosis L3-4 and L4-5... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Get to the Bottom of 63688's Global Period
Question: What is the global period for CPT® code 63688? Alaska Subscriber ... Read more
Demolish Any Possible Denials for Spinal RF Ablation with These Tips
Include add-on codes for each additional level. Reporting the radiofrequency (RF) abla... Read more
2014:
Learn How the CMS Final Rule for Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Affects ED Services
RVUs drop yet overall payments increase due to Medicare Economic Index weight rescaling.... Read more
HR 4302:
Does This Offer a Permanent Solution for Pay Cuts?
Another likely delay in ICD-10 gets a mixed reaction.  The Protecting Access to M... Read more
Reader Question:
22633 Applies To both Posterior and Posterolateral Fusions
Question: The doctor did an extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) procedure on a ... Read more
Reader Question:
Choose 20205 for Paraspinal Muscle Biopsy
Question: Our surgeon performed a posterior lumbar interbody fusion at L4-L5 on a p... Read more
Reader Question:
Count Lesions and Not Sessions in Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Question: Our surgeon did a cyberknife procedure for a patient who had pituitary ad... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Not All Team Work Qualifies For Modifier 62
Question: When two or more surgeons work together in a procedure, do they quality a... Read more
CMS Update:
Check When You Can Earn For PILD
Document benefits of treatment and impact on clinical management.  A Jan. 14, 201... Read more
ICD-10:
Look For One-To-One Match in Codes for Cerebral Contusions
Caution: More than one ICD-9 code may map to the same ICD-10 code. When reporting cont... Read more
AMA Symposium:
Learn What's New in Chemodenervation and Intraoperative Neurophysiology
Keep a count on muscles and time units; watch before you submit multiple units. Gregor... Read more
Reader Question:
Report Every Component of Diagnosis
Question: Please suggest ICD-9 diagnosis code for thoracic epidural mass with compr... Read more
Reader Question:
Do Not Report 22206 with 22327 at Same Level
Question: Our surgeon did removal of segmental instrumentation, a 3 column osteotom... Read more
Reader Question:
920 Applies to Neck and Scalp Hematomas
Question: Please suggest diagnosis code for neck and scalp hematomas. Our surgeon h... Read more
Reader Question:
Beware bundle in 61070 and 62230
Question: Our surgeon made a percutaneous puncture to do a simple irrigation of the... Read more
Reader Question:
Check Radiographic Assistance in Stereotactic Procedures
Question: Our surgeon aspirated a colloid cyst in the third ventricle through a bur... Read more
Op Note:
Follow This 61711 Example to Spot the Vessels Involved in Anastomosis
Find out what additional code you should report for the utilization of an operating micr... Read more
ICD-10:
Customize Your Reporting for Ankylosing Spondylitis in 2014
Confirm the site involved to catch the right code. When reporting a diagnosis of ankyl... Read more
PQRS:
Watch Your Ps and Qs: Align Your Practice To These PQRS Changes
Watch for providers in your group and changes in physician’s quality reporting pro... Read more
What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory process that affects the spine. The cause of a... Read more
Reader Question:
Look For Redo in Microdiscectomy
Question: In a patient with recurrent disc herniation at L5-S1 with S1 radiculopath... Read more
Reader Question:
Confirm Complexity of Aneurysm Not Procedure
Question: Our surgeon operated upon a 12 mm carotid aneurysm. There is no mention o... Read more
Reader Question:
Dig Deep for Dural Repairs
Question: In a patient who had a traumatic fracture of C2 and T2, our surgeon did a... Read more
Reader Question:
Do Not Report 63048 as Standalone Code
Question: Our surgeon did a bilateral decompression laminectomy at L2-L5 along with... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Check Approach for Orbital Procedures
Question: Our surgeon removed a tumor at the orbital apex through a transcranial ap... Read more
Dig Deep and Recoup Your Cranial Decompression Pay
Hint: Keep an eye on bundles with other surgical procedures. When reporting a decompre... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Avoid Cerebral Palsy Code Confusion in 2014
Confirm the type of cerebral palsy to narrow down to correct code. What looks like a d... Read more
Payment Update:
Check Medicare Policy When Reporitng Percutaneous Image-guided Lumbar Decompression
CMS gets specific for health outcomes in PILD for LSS. In mid-October 2013, CMS releas... Read more
Reader Question:
Debridement is Inclusive When Reporting Craniotomy
Question: How can we code for debridement or washout of the dura if the brain is already... Read more
Reader Question:
Check for Removal and reinsertion of Spinal Instrumentation
Question: A patient who had a lumbar fusion from L4-S1 done in past, now needs another l... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Report Open Over Endoscopic Procedures if Your Surgeon Converts
Question: Our neurosurgeon initiated an endoscopic removal of the intraventricular collo... Read more
6 Tips Finesse Your Herniated Disc Excision Reporting
Do not miss add-on codes and modifiers, if applicable. When reporting a herniated nucl... Read more
Refresh Your Disc Procedure Term Knowledge
To code your r herniated disc procedures accurately, keep this terms list handy. Lamin... Read more
ICD-10:
Look for Specific Options for Pathological Fracture of Vertebrae
Confirm underlying disease and site before you pick up the right code. You may easily ... Read more
Upgrade Your Evaluation and Management Accuracy With These Strategies
Confirm if you can report established patient codes. When you report E/M services, you... Read more
Reader Question:
You Can Report Microdissection with Craniotomy
Question: We are billing CPT® codes 61510 (Craniectomy, trephination, bone flap cran... Read more
Reader Question:
Earn for Your Surgeon's Services in Stereotactic Procedures
Question: Can we bill for our neurosurgeon’s work in stereotactic radiosurgery wit... Read more
You Be the Coder:
62287 is Inclusive of Decompression
Question: How is an endoscopic discectomy and decompression of lumbar spinal nerve witho... Read more
Available Years:  2014  2013  2012  2011  2010  2009  2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000