Orthopedic Coding Alert
Epidural Steroid Injection
Question: What is the appropriate code for an L2-3 intralaminar epidural steroid injection? Idaho Subscriber Answer: This type of injection is also known as a translaminar epidural injection and should be billed as 62311 (Injection, single [not via indwelling catheter], not including neurolytic substances, with or without contrast [for either localization or epidurography], of diagnostic or therapeutic substance[s] [including anesthetic, antispasmodic, opioid, steroid, other solution], epidural or subarachnoid; lumbar, sacral [caudal]). According to CPT Assistant, the type of substance injected (e.g., narcotic, anesthetic, steroid, antispasmodic) does not dictate the code choice, and 62311 differentiates itself from other injections by focusing "on the route of administration (i.e., single injection [not via indwelling catheter] versus continuous infusion or intermittent bolus via catheter)."
Orthopedic Coding Alert
- CPT Unveils New Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Code for 2003
CPT 2003 introduced three new arthroscopic surgery codes, including 29827 (Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; with rotator [...] - Operative Report Examination:
How to Know When Fracture Care Is an Incident-To Service
Orthopedists need not personally cast a patient's fracture to report fracture care codes as long [...] - You Be the Coder:
DME Application
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Specialty Spotlight:
Hand Surgery: Dont Let Reimbursement Slip Through Your Fingers
Hand surgeons who perform surgical procedures on multiple digits should append the finger modifiers (-FA, [...] - News Brief:
OIG to Scrutinize Bone Density Screenings,Incident-To Claims
Heads up, orthopedic coders: The U.S. Office of Inspector General (OIG) will be scrutinizing your [...] - Know Your Insurers Bone Density Screening Rules
Most Medicare carriers require that patients have at least one of the following five conditions [...] - News Brief:
Version of Incident-To Billing Now Allowed in Hospitals
Effective Oct. 25, 2002, CMS will allow incident-to billing for hospital inpatient, outpatient and ED [...] - Reader Questions:
-59 Not Necessary for Knee Arthroscopy
Question: Every time our practice bills 27425 (Lateral retinacular release [any method]) with 29881 (Arthroscopy, [...] - Reader Questions:
Shoulder Manipulation
Question: Our patient had an apparent scapulotho-racic dislocation (831.0x-831.1x), and the orthopedist examined the left [...] - Reader Questions:
Lumbar Disc Disease
Question: Are lumbar discogenic disease and lumbar disc disease coded as 722.10 (Lumbar [...] - Reader Questions:
Repicci Procedure
Question: Our orthopedist indicated that he performed a Repicci procedure and later told me that [...] - Reader Questions:
Epidural Steroid Injection
Question: What is the appropriate code for an L2-3 intralaminar epidural steroid injection? Idaho Subscriber [...] - Reader Questions:
Femoral Head Is Not Coded As Femur
Question: Is there a CPT code for resurfacing the femoral head? Someone recommended 27599 (Unlisted [...] - Reader Questions:
Tendon Repair, Tumor Removal
Question: Our surgeon recently excised an extensive giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath from [...]
