Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: May we report 20665 for removal of a stereotactic halo?

Ohio Subscriber

Answer: The descriptor for 20665 specifies "removal of tongs or halo applied by another physician" [emphasis added]. Therefore, you should report 20665 only if the same physician did not bill for placing the halo using 20661 (Application of halo, including removal; cranial).

Payer regulations treat members of the same group practice (that is, all physicians with the same provider identification number) as the "same" physician for billing purposes. Therefore, even if another physician in the same practice placed the halo, you cannot charge separately for the removal.