Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Arthroscopic Surgery

Question: If a diagnostic arthroscopy (29870) is done on the medial compartment of the knee, and a surgical arthroscopy with a meniscectomy is done on the lateral compartment (29881), is 29870 separately billable with a modifier -59 (distinct procedural service) because it is done on a different compartment from 29881?

New Jersey Subscriber

Answer: The instructional notes at the beginning of the Endoscopy/Arthroscopy subsection of CPT state that surgical arthroscopy always includes a diagnostic arthroscopy. Therefore, whenever an arthroscopic surgical procedure is performed on the knee, a diagnostic arthroscopy of the knee is included, regardless of the compartments of the knee involved, and 29870 should not be reported.


Answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions provided by Heidi Stout, CPC, CCS-P, coding and reimbursement manager at University Orthopedic Associates in New Brunswick, N.J.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in Revenue Cycle Insider
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more