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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

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Sharpen Your Shunt Coding Skills With This Chart

Published on Mon Apr 27, 2009

Before selecting a code for initial shunt placement, you should read your neurosurgeons documentation to determine the locations of both the proximal (beginning) and terminal (drain site) portions of the shunt. Let this chart be your guarantee youll never making a shunt coding misstep in the future. *The -atrial, -auricular, and -jugular shunts require your neurosurgeon to also place a venous catheter, which payers bundle into the primary procedure (62190 or 62220). **If your neurosurgeon uses a neuroendoscope during 62225/62230, you can report +62160 (Neuroendoscopy, intracranial, for placement or replacement of ventricular catheter and attachment to shunt system or external drainage [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) in addition to the primary procedure.
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