Neurosurgery Coding Alert

3 key factors you'll need to identify to avoid denials.When your neurosurgeon performs spinal osteotomies, you'll stand a much better chance of achieving full deserved reimbursement if the procedure note clearly defines the surgeon's intent and approach. Specifically, look carefully for whether the physician performed decompression beyond the osteotomy and scrutinize the operative note for indications that a discectomy has been performed.Spinal osteotomy is performed when fusion alone would not correct a spinal deformity like a change in anterior or lateral curvature of the spine. "Osteotomies are only indicated when a corrective fusion is not enough. If the degree of deformity is severe, then and only then is an osteotomy indicated," explains Jennifer Schmutz, CPC, health information coder at the Neurosurgical Associates, LLC in Salt Lake City, Utah.Report spinal osteotomy when the operating surgeon removes a portion of the vertebral segment(s) using codes in the 22206 to 22226 range.Key: Accurate [...]