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Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Question:

11981 Is Correct for Nonabsorbent Antibiotic Beads

Published on Fri Jun 11, 2004

Question: Our orthopedist inserted a nonabsorbable antibiotic bead under the patient's subcutaneous tissue to decrease infection following surgery. How should we report the bead insertion? North Dakota Subscriber Answer: You should report 11981 (Insertion, non-biodegradable drug delivery implant) because your physician inserted a bead that he must later remove.

If the orthopedic surgeon inserts a biodegradable bead, however, you cannot separately report the insertion. Instead, insurers bundle the bead insertion into the primary surgery that the surgeon performs on that date.
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