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Orthopedic Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Electrothermal Arthroscopy

Published on Fri Feb 01, 2002

Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: How should I code electrothermal arthroscopy (thermal shrinkage)?

Indiana Subscriber

Answer: Many payers consider thermal shrinkage experimental, so you may encounter payment denials no matter how you code. This is why it is important to obtain preauthorization in these cases.
 
Your only option after the fact is to report 29999 (Unlisted procedure, arthroscopy). Be sure to include a letter and an analogous code, in this case 23455 (Capsulorrhaphy, anterior; with labral repair [e.g., Bankart procedure]). With your documentation, consider submitting copies of peer-review articles that explain the benefits of thermal repair versus open or traditional arthroscopy.
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