Neurosurgery Coding Alert
Use This Code for Lumbar Stenosis Tx
Question: Encounter notes indicates that the surgeon performed a laminectomy with exploration of the cauda equina on a pair of vertebral segments. The patient had a diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis. How should I report this encounter? Idaho Subscriber Answer: There are a few laminectomy codes to choose from; given your patient’s diagnosis, however, one choice stands out. On the claim, report 63005 (Laminectomy with exploration and/ or decompression of spinal cord and/or cauda equina, without facetectomy, foraminotomy or discectomy (eg, spinal stenosis), 1 or 2 vertebral segments; lumbar, except for spondylolisthesis) with M48.061 (Spinal stenosis, lumbar region without neurogenic claudication) or M48.062 (Spinal stenosis, lumbar region with neurogenic claudication) appended to represent the patient’s stenosis, depending on encounter specifics. More on laminectomies: There are several codes for this specific laminectomy; your choice will depend on anatomy. In addition to 63005, there are also these codes for this type of laminectomy:
Neurosurgery Coding Alert
- Surgery:
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