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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

READER QUESTION ~ Code Each Lesion Treated With Gamma Knife Surgery

Published on Mon Nov 20, 2006

Question: A patient underwent gamma knife surgery, during which the neurosurgeon treated two lesions. Can we report a procedure code for each lesion?

Montana Subscriber Answer: You can code for each lesion treatment in this scenario. When the neurosurgeon performs gamma knife surgery (also known as stereotactic radiosurgery), you will report 61793 (Stereotactic radiosurgery [particle beam, gamma ray or linear accelerator], one or more sessions) for each unit of the service. Use 61793 for both brain and spinal radiosurgery.

On your claim, insurers will want you to:

- report 61793 for treatment of the first lesion.

- report 61793 again for the second lesion, with either modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) or modifier 51 (Multiple procedures) attached to show that the surgeon treated two different lesions. (Some insurers require modifier 59 on this claim, while others require modifier 51. Check with the payer before filing.) Clinical and coding expertise for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions provided by Eric Sandhusen, CHC, CPC, director of compliance for the Columbia University department of surgery.
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