Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Hint: Focus on approach and potential add-ons to file clean claims. When your neurosurgeon performs a decompressive discectomy, he can complete either a partial or total discectomy, can use any of several approaches, or might use imaging or other special equipment during the procedure. Whatever details the surgery included, knowing certain things about each option will streamline your claims and keep reimbursement coming. Distinguish the Approach "The first and foremost way of correctly billing decompressive discectomy is to pay attention to the initial incision the physician makes to the herniated disc," says Rachna Chawla, CCS, senior professional coding analyst with Tufts Medical Center Physicians Organization in Boston. The approaches fall into four categories: • Anterior -- 63075-+63078 (Discectomy, anterior, with decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve root[s], including osteophytectomy ...) • Posterior -- 63020-+63035 (Laminotomy [hemilaminectomy], with decompression of nerve root[s], including partial facetectomy, foraminotomy and/or excision of herniated intervertebral disc, including [...]