Neurosurgery Coding Alert
Include Paraspinal Injection With PLIF Procedures
Question: I have a neurosurgeon who injected 80 mg of Depo-Medrol and 10 cc Marcaine into the paraspinal musculature on both left and right sides. He did this while performing a posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). How should I code this? Nevada Subscriber Answer: You should include injections in the procedure. They are not separately billable. Note: For the PLIF, you-ll report 22630 (Arthrodesis, posterior interbody technique, including laminectomy and/or discectomy to prepare interspace [other than for decompression], single interspace; lumbar) for the PLIF on the patient's initial interspace. For additional interspaces, report +22632 ( ... each additional interspace [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]).
Neurosurgery Coding Alert
- CPT 2009:
Total Disc Arthroplasties Gain Industry Acceptance With Regular CPT Codes
Watch out: Overlooking these neurosurgery revisions could cost you big in 2009. When your neurosurgeon [...] - Capture Arthroplasty With Easier 1-Code Method
These notes bundle 4 services. You-ll have a streamlined way to report cervical disc replacement [...] - CPT 2009:
Toss Modifier 21 Out and Go to +99354-+99359 Instead
See why 30 minutes more than usual is the magic requirement. If your neurosurgeon spends [...] - News You Can Use:
Mark Your Calendar: ICD-10 Could Hit in 2011
The new code set will quadruple the diagnostic codes you can choose from. You-re busy [...] - You Be the Coder:
Pick Up This Continuous Infusion Pump Advice
Pick Up This Continuous Infusion Pump Advice Question: Our neurosurgeon occasionally uses nonepidural continuous infusion [...] - Reader Questions:
Does Nerve Pedicle Transfer Always = Oberlin?
Question: Are all nerve pedicle transfers considered Oberlin procedures? Georgia Subscriber Answer: Not all nerve [...] - Reader Questions:
How to Code 2 Sides of VP Shunt Replacements
Question: The neurosurgeon removed a left-sided ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt and placed a new shunt on [...] - Reader Questions:
Include Paraspinal Injection With PLIF Procedures
Question: I have a neurosurgeon who injected 80 mg of Depo-Medrol and 10 cc Marcaine [...] - Reader Questions:
Check Descriptor Before Applying 63005
Question: Patient presented with symptoms that resulted in a L-MRI which revealed an extradural lesion [...] - Reader Questions:
Add Two Codes Per Hour of IOM, Electromyography
Question: My neurosurgeon performs intraoperative monitoring for a pedicle surgery. He stimulates the screw and [...] - Reader Questions:
Do This for Anterior Cervical Osteophytic Spur Removal
Question: A patient with difficulty swallowing presented to our practice. The neurosurgeon performed surgery, removing [...]
