Neurosurgery Coding Alert
Verify 20693 or 20999 for Halo Vest Adjustment
Question: South Carolina Subscriber Answer: You can report the halo adjustment with 20693 (Adjustment or revision of external fixation system requiring anesthesia [e.g., new pin{s} or wire{s} and/or new ring{s} or bar{s}]). If your surgeon doesn't believe 20693 is an accurate choice, submit 20999 (Unlisted procedure, musculoskeletal system, general) and compare to 20693 for RVU purposes (11.88 national RVUs for facility or non-facility). You can code the debridement separately with 11040 (Debridement; skin, partial thickness).
Neurosurgery Coding Alert
- Kyphoplasty vs. Vertebroplasty Don't Miss Out on Ancillary Procedures With Kyphoplasty, Vertebroplasty
Report radiologic supervision and interpretation, but skip bone biopsies.When your neurosurgeon performs a vertebroplasty or [...] - ICD-9 2010 Update:
Improve Your Seizure and Cognitive Testing Coding With New ICD-9 Codes
But you should keep using 724.3 for spinal stenosis.You're likely holding your breath in anticipation [...] - Evaluation and Management:
Scope Out Potential Level 4 and 5 E/Ms By Knowing Crucial HPI Facts
Watch out for CPT/Medicare differences when counting HPI elements.If you're not accurately accounting for the [...] - News You Can Use:
Welcome a 2.2 Percent Medicare Pay Boost For the Rest of This Year -- Finally
But the news isn't all good -- first, you faced a week of lower payments, and [...] - You Be the Coder:
Verify 20693 or 20999 for Halo Vest Adjustment
Question: The neurosurgeon adjusted a misaligned halo vest under anesthesia. He later removed the painful [...] - Reader Questions:
Turn to 97605, 97606 for Postop Wound Vac
Question: Our provider completed a postoperative wound-vac change in the office. Can we bill for [...] - Reader Questions:
Reporting 97140 Multiple Times Is Possible
Question: The physician saw a patient for cervical and lumbar problems and provided manual manipulation [...] - Reader Questions:
Follow Signature Rules or Risk Payments
Question: One of our physicians likes to sign everything with just his initials, or sometimes [...] - Reader Questions:
Verify Exact Procedure for Thoracic Laminotomy
Question: The neurosurgeon completed bilateral laminotomy to T8-9 and T9-10 in the prone position. The [...] - Reader Questions:
Shunt Tap Billing During Global Is OK
Question: Can we bill a shunt tap for an inpatient within the global period for [...] - Reader Questions:
Look at Depth for Piriformis Muscle Mass Excision
Question: I have an operative note for "removal of painful mass (lipoma) left sciatic notch." [...]
