Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Neurosurgery Listserv Discussion Group

Answer: Descriptors for 63042 (Laminectomy [hemilaminectomy], with decompression of nerve root[s], including partial facetectomy, foraminotomy and/or excision of herniated intervertebral disk, reexploration, single interspace; lumbar) and +63044 ( each additional lumbar interspace [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) specify "interspaces," not levels. Therefore, assuming that laminectomy was performed at two interspaces (L3-L4 and L4-L5), only a single unit of 63044 should be reported with 63042.

"Redo" codes 63042 and 63044 are valued to reflect the extra work required when scarring is present from a previous surgery: Decompression may be necessary because of scar tissue, a severely herniated disc, etc. Therefore, charging separately for removal of compressive epidural scar using 63267 (Laminectomy for excision or evacuation of intraspinal lesion other than neoplasm extradural; lumbar) is not allowed and is "double dipping" (charging twice for the same procedure). Code 63267 is appropriate only if the surgeon removed an epidural scar or other lesion from a level that had not been previously operated on.

Laminectomy at the L1-L2 interspace is appropriately reported with 63005 (Laminectomy with exploration and/or decompression of spinal cord and/or cauda equina, without facetectomy, foraminotomy or diskectomy, [e.g., spinal senosis], one or two vertebral segments; lumbar). Therefore, proper coding for this operative session is 63005, 63042 and 63044.

Clinical and coding expertise for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions provided by Eric Sandham, CPC, compliance educator for Central California Faculty Medical Group, a group practice and training facility associated with the University of California at San Francisco in Fresno.