Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: Can you ever report +61781, +61782, or +61783 as primary codes?

North Carolina Subscriber

Answer: No. Navigation codes +61781 (Stereotactic computer-assisted (navigational) procedure; cranial, intradural (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)); +61782 (... cranial, extradural (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)); and +61783 (... spinal (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)) are add-on codes. This means they should be listed immediately after the primary code for which the navigation system was used. These navigation codes should never be reported as the primary code.

For example, you can bill +61781 with 61510 (Craniectomy, trephination, bone flap craniotomy; for excision of brain tumor, supratentorial, except meningioma), as well as other craniectomy codes for tumor, cyst, and abscess.