Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Here’s why you need to pay special attention to 2022 code revisions.

When it rains, it pours.

While the previous story highlighted all the additions and deletions that you’ll need to note in CPT^® 2022, there are also an extensive set of revisions you’ll have to get familiar with before the new and revised codes take effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

Check out all the revisions neurosurgery coders will need to know so their 2022 CPT^® coding can continue unabated.

Note These Neurosurgery-Specific Revisions

Neurosurgery coders will want to note the following revisions (2022 descriptors listed first):

• 11981 (Insertion, drug-delivery implant (ie, bioresorbable, biodegradable, non-biodegradable))

2021 descriptor: (Insertion, non-biodegradable drug delivery implant)

The difference: “Non-biodegradable” deleted; “(ie, bioresorbable, biodegradable, non-biodegradable)” added in 2022.

• 22600 (Arthrodesis, posterior or posterolateral technique, single interspace; cervical below C2 segment)

2021 descriptor: (Arthrodesis, posterior or posterolateral technique, single level; cervical below C2 segment)

The difference: “Level” replaced with “interspace” in 2022.

• 22610 (Arthrodesis, posterior or posterolateral technique, single interspace; thoracic (with lateral transverse technique, when performed))

2021 descriptor: (Arthrodesis, posterior or posterolateral technique, single level; thoracic (with lateral transverse technique, when performed))

The difference: “Level” replaced with “interspace” in 2022.

• 22612 (Arthrodesis, posterior or posterolateral technique, single interspace; lumbar (with lateral transverse technique, when performed))

2021 descriptor: (Arthrodesis, posterior or posterolateral technique, single level; lumbar (with lateral transverse technique, when performed))

The difference: “Level” replaced with “interspace” in 2022.

• +22614 (Arthrodesis, posterior or posterolateral technique, single interspace; each additional interspace (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure))

2021 descriptor: (Arthrodesis, posterior or posterolateral technique, single level; each additional vertebral segment (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure))

The difference: “Vertebral segment” replaced with “interspace” in 2022.

• 22633 (Arthrodesis, combined posterior or postero­lateral technique with posterior interbody technique including laminectomy and/or discectomy sufficient to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), single interspace; lumbar)

2021 descriptor: (Arthrodesis, combined posterior or posterolateral technique with posterior interbody technique including laminectomy and/or discectomy sufficient to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), single interspace and segment; lumbar)

The difference: “And segment” deleted in 2022.

• +22634 (Arthrodesis, combined posterior or posterolateral technique with posterior interbody technique including laminectomy and/or discectomy sufficient to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), single interspace; each additional interspace and segment (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure))

2021 descriptor: (Arthrodesis, combined posterior or posterolateral technique with posterior interbody technique including laminectomy and/or discectomy sufficient to prepare interspace (other than for decompression), single interspace and segment; each additional interspace and segment (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure))