Orthopedic Coding Alert

In Orthopedic Coding Alert, Vol. 15, No. 1, the answer to the reader question "Look At What Was Dissected In Shoulder Arthroscopy" should have also indicated that you report 76000 (Fluoroscopy [separate procedure], up to 1 hour physician time, other than 71023 or 71034 [eg, cardiac fluoroscopy]) if your surgeon did the fluoroscopy.

In Orthopedic Coding Alert, Vol. 15, No. 1, the answer to the reader question "Do Not Report Saucerization with Meniscal Repair" should read "Saucerization is a meniscectomy and is performed for a lateral discoid meniscus.  Since the lateral meniscectomy (29881) is performed in conjunction with the repair of the lateral meniscus (29882), only one code can be used for two procedures done in the same compartment. 29882 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscus repair [medial OR lateral]) has a higher RVU than 29881 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy [medial OR lateral, including any meniscal shaving] including debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty), same or separate compartment[s], when performed), thus the procedure is coded as 29882.

In Orthopedic Coding Alert, Vol. 14, No. 12, the answer to the reader question "Select One Code for Arthroscopy in Each Knee Compartment" should read "You should report 29882 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscus repair ([medial OR lateral]) and 29881 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy ([medial OR lateral, including any meniscal shaving)])-59 (Distinct Procedural Service). Both of these codes can be used together as they are performed in separate compartments. The codes would be bundled if they were performed in the same compartment. The 59 modifier distinguishes the second procedure as distinct and separate from 29882.