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Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Stick With Unlisted for Meniscus Trephination

Published on Sun Nov 14, 2004

Question: Which code should I report when the orthopedist documents "arthroscopic trephination posterior third medial meniscus?" My surgeon says it's a repair because he uses a trephination needle to rasp the meniscus (which causes it to bleed, so he repairs the tear rather than removes it). Therefore, he thinks we should report 29882, but I think we should append modifier -52 to that code. Is this accurate?

Indiana Subscriber Answer: No. You should instead report 29999 (Unlisted procedure, arthroscopy).
 
According to the September 2004 CPT Assistant, "It would not be appropriate to report codes 29882-29883 for the arthroscopic trephination of the meniscus procedure because these codes describe repair performed by a different technique."
 
Therefore, you should not bill 29882 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscus repair), with or without modifier -52 (Reduced services), for trephination.
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