Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: Encounter notes indicate that the neurosurgeon created a burr hole to implant electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes. She also placed a ventricular catheter via neuroendoscopy. I see a code for the burr hole creation, but is there any way to also code for the neuroendoscopy?

Indiana Subscriber

Answer: Yes, you can code for both procedures. First, report 61210 (Burr hole(s); for implanting ventricular catheter, reservoir, EEG electrode(s), pressure recording device, or other cerebral monitoring device (separate procedure)) for the burr hole creation.

For the neuroendoscopic catheter placement, use +62160 (Neuroendoscopy, intracranial, for placement or replacement of ventricular catheter and attachment to shunt system or external drainage (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)).

No modifiers? You might be tempted to slap modifier 51 (Multiple procedures) or 59 (Distinct procedural service) on +62160 … but don’t. As +62160 is an add-on code, there is no modifier necessary for this two-code encounter.