Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Get the lowdown on these add-ons the surgeon might use to aid arthrodesis.Coders can trip on any number of choices when trying to decide among spinal instrumentation add-on codes: approach, segmental or non-segmental ... or the dreaded interspace miscount.Follow these steps when deciding on approach and instrumentation type to get the right spinal add-on code each time " and recoup every bit of reimbursement your neurosurgeon deserves.Look to Primary Code FirstAll of the spinal instrumentation codes are add-ons, meaning you must append them to a primary surgical code. For neurosurgery coders, that almost always means arthrodesis in addition to the instrumentation code (e.g., +22840, +22842-+22847).Bottom line: "By code description, you will not be paid for instrumentation without arthrodesis. Be sure that the correct arthrodesis code is included in the charge," warns Rena Hall, CPC, coder/billing/ insurance coordinator for Kansas City Neurosurgery.Don't Be Misled by 'Instrumentation' Element of CodesLocation of approach [...]