Orthopedic Coding Alert
Repicci Procedure
Question: Our orthopedist indicated that he performed a Repicci procedure and later told me that this is a unicondylar knee arthroplasty. Is there a code for this, and can we also code a diagnostic knee arthroscopy with it to confirm necessity? Indianapolis Subscriber Answer: This procedure refers to the product implanted, most likely a "Repicci II" unicondylar knee implant. Because it signifies a unicondylar knee arthroplasty, report 27446 (Arthroplasty, knee, condyle and plateau; medial OR lateral compartment). Your documentation should indicate which compartment (whether medial or lateral) the surgery affected. You cannot bill 29870 (Arthroscopy, knee, diagnostic, with or without synovial biopsy [separate procedure]) in addition to 27446. The arthroscopy is included in the arthroplasty and will therefore always be denied when billed together.
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 [...]
