Orthopedic Coding Alert

Question: Our surgeon did the following procedures: 1. L5 revision laminectomy  2. L2 bilateral hemilaminotomy  3. L3 laminectomy with lateral recess decompression and foraminotomies 4. L4 laminectomy with lateral recess decompression and foraminotomies 5. Posterolateral arthrodesis L3-L4  6. Posterolateral arthrodesis L4-L5  7. Local bone graft  How do we report these? New York Subscriber Answer: You report code 63042 (Laminotomy [hemilaminectomy], with decompression of nerve root[s], including partial facetectomy, foraminotomy and/or excision of herniated intervertebral disc, reexploration, single interspace; lumbar) for L5 revision laminectomy and code 63030 (Laminotomy (hemilaminectomy) with decompression of nerve root(s), including partial facetectomy, foraminotomy and/or excision of herniated intervertebral disc; 1 interspace, lumbar) and append modifier 50 (Bilateral procedure) You will pick up code 63047 (Laminectomy, facetectomy and foraminotomy [unilateral or bilateral with decompression of spinal cord, cauda equina and/or nerve root[s], eg, spinal or lateral recess stenosis), single vertebral segment; lumbar) for the L3 laminectomy with [...]