Neurosurgery Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Append Modifier 52 if Brain Tumor Was Not Removed

Question: How do we report a left temporoparietal craniotomy with an open brain tumor biopsy? Florida Subscriber Answer: For the procedure described, you may consider reporting code 61510 (Craniectomy, trephination, bone flap craniotomy; for excision of brain tumor, supratentorial, except meningioma). This code, however, is for excision of the brain tumor. Since your surgeon is only doing a biopsy, you may append [...]
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