Neurosurgery Coding Alert
Cut Down on Co-Surgery Mistakes
Question: Our neurosurgeon is treating a workers compensation patient scheduled for an L5-S1 arthroplasty. A thoracic surgeon will be assisting him. How should I code this? New Hampshire Subscriber Answer: You should report 22857 (Total disc arthroplasty [artificial disc], anterior approach, including discectomy to prepare interspace [other than for decompression], single interspace, lumbar). Be sure to append modifier 62 (Two surgeons). Important: When acting as co-surgeons, two physicians cannot share the same documentation. Have each physician provide a note describing what portion of the procedure he performed, how much work was involved, and how long the procedure took. Make sure that both of the doctors involved in the co-surgery identify the other as a co-surgeon. Also, for your modifier 62 claim to succeed, both physicians must submit claims for the same procedure, and both physicians must use modifier 62.
Neurosurgery Coding Alert
- 5 Simple Steps Shore Up Your Shunting Placement, Revision, and Replacement Claims
Watch out: Not applying this modifier could mean missing out on $220. You may know [...] - Clip 'n' Save:
Sharpen Your Shunt Coding Skills With This Chart
Before selecting a code for initial shunt placement, you should read your neurosurgeons documentation to [...] - Focus on Doc's Intent to Quickly Solve Consult, Referral Riddle
A letter of findings to the first physician doesnt always equal a consult. Choosing a [...] - Don't Get Burned By Bilateral Modifier Guidelines
Number 2 in column Z? Strike out modifiers 50, RT, LT as options. Not sure [...] - You Be the Coder:
Control of Bleeding During Surgery
Question: I have an op report in which the neurosurgeon specifies that he performed \"control [...] - Reader Questions:
MD Must Be Involved in Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Question: Our neurosurgeons are involved with the radiation oncologists for the planning and image studies [...] - Reader Questions:
Cut Down on Co-Surgery Mistakes
Question: Our neurosurgeon is treating a workers compensation patient scheduled for an L5-S1 arthroplasty. A [...] - Reader Questions:
+22851 Covers Different Devices
Question: I really liked the article \"Safeguard Your Spinal Instrumentation Claims by Busting These 5 [...] - Reader Questions:
Hold Off Separately Reporting Fluoro
Question: When our surgeon performs spinal fusions, he often dictates using fluoroscopic guidance (and sometimes [...] - Reader Questions:
Go Procedure-by-Procedure Coding This Scenario
Question: My physician performed a bilateral posterior fossa craniectomy with a C-1 laminectomy. He removed [...]
