Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: What is the best code to describe microlaser diskectomy? CPT does not contain a specific code to describe this procedure.

Minnesota Subscriber

Answer: The use of the microlaser during diskectomy does not affect your code choice. Rather, coding varies according to the surgeon's approach.
 
For a percutaneous procedure, consider 62287 (Aspiration or decompression procedure, percutaneous, of nucleus pulposus of intervertebral disk, any method, single or multiple levels, lumbar [e.g., manual or automated percutaneous diskectomy, percutaneous laser diskectomy]). If the surgeon instead chooses an open anterior procedure, in which he makes an incision on the front side area of the neck, select between 63075 (Diskectomy, anterior, with decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve root[s], including osteophytectomy; cervical, single interspace) and +63076 (... cervical, each additional interspace [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]), as appropriate to the number of spinal levels the surgeon treats.
 
Using a laser, rather than a scalpel or other instrument, does not entitle the surgeon to additional compensation beyond that allowed by the standard procedure code.