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Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Look to 22849 for Instrumentation Reinsertion

Published on Thu Mar 24, 2011

Question: When the surgeon removes instrumentation and reinserts the instrumentation at the same level, can we report 22852 (Removal of posterior segmental instrumentation) and 22849 (Reinsertion of spinal fixation device) together?Virginia SubscriberAnswer: You would only report 22849. The relative value units (RVUs) for this code take into account the removal and reinsertion.
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