Reader Question:
Bone Graft
Published on Wed Aug 01, 2001
Question: My physician opened and prepared a graft site but then switched to synthetic bone graft material because the donor area did not look healthy. How should I code this, because he didnt actually harvest the graft?
Virginia Subscriber
Answer: Most repairs of fracture nonunion or arthrodesis procedures that require grafting have the phrase includes obtaining graft in the code definition. If the primary procedure does not normally include a bone graft as part of the global service, report the graft harvesting using 20900 (bone graft, any donor area; minor or small [e.g., dowel or button]) or 20902 (... major or large) and append modifier -52 (reduced services). Some coders may use modifier -53 (discontinued procedure), but this is reserved for when the patients well-being would be threatened by continuing the procedure.
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:
