Orthopedic Coding Alert
Routine Hip Follow-Up May Require 2 Codes
Question: Which diagnosis code should we report for a patient who comes in for a routine hip replacement follow-up that includes an x-ray? Kansas Subscriber Answer: When a patient presents for an annual follow-up and is symptom-free, you-ll typically report V67.09 (Follow-up examination; following other surgery) and V43.64 (Organ or tissue replaced by other means; joint; hip). Watch out: If the surgeon documents that the patient is still healing from the surgery, you should report code V54.81 (Aftercare following joint replacement) instead. Tip: You should choose an appropriate E/M code (99211-99215, Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient ...) to report the physician's service.
Orthopedic Coding Alert
- Shore Up Your Skills With This Real-Life Knee Case Study
Refresh your coding essentials with this step-by-step ICD-9 selection If you-re eager for feedback on [...] - Quiz:
Whip Your X-Ray Coding Into Shape Today
Find out whether you-re a shoulder-view ace with question 2 Diagnostic imaging is the fastest [...] - Answers:
Whip Your X-Ray Coding Into Shape Today
Check your answers to the quiz on page 27 How did you do? Find out [...] - Get Up to Speed on Synvisc Coding Saga's Latest Chapter
HCPCS 2008 gives Synvisc and Hyalgan another facelift If your head's still spinning from 2007's [...] - You Be the Coder:
Routine Hip Follow-Up May Require 2 Codes
Question: Which diagnosis code should we report for a patient who comes in for a [...] - Reader Questions:
2nd Stage of Reimplantation = 27132
Question: One of our orthopedic surgeons did a planned reimplantation of a total hip replacement [...] - Reader Questions:
Unspecified Ganglion Merits 727.43
Question: Which ICD-9 codes should we report for a patient who had surgery addressing carpal [...] - Reader Questions:
Bolster Your Splinting/Strapping Know-How
Question: What are the keys to deciding when to report splinting and when to report [...] - Reader Questions:
Stick to 20605 for Sacrococcygeal Injection
Question: What's the proper way to code a sacrococcygeal joint injection? Michigan Subscriber Answer: Codes [...] - Reader Questions:
Clamp Down on Consult Miscoding
Question: If a managing physician asks the orthopedic surgeon for a consult on an inpatient [...] - Reader Questions:
Blood Vessel Repair Merits 35236
Question: What CPT code should I report if the orthopedic surgeon had to perform a [...] - Reader Questions:
Clear Away Debridement Questions
Question: May I bill debridement if the physician documents no gross contamination? The physician reduced [...] - Guest Columnist:
Darlene Boschert, CPC, CPC-H, CCP, CMM, CHCO, CMT, CMA Taking the Fear Out of Modifier 59
Clinical examples help clear up common misconceptions I personally think that modifier 59 is one [...] - Reader Questions:
Snag Separate PLIF and Laminectomy Pay
Question: My surgeon argues that we should be able to report a laminectomy (63047) in [...] - Reader Questions:
Still Confused About Mods 59 and 51? Read This
Question: My colleague and I have been debating the proper times to use modifiers 59 [...] - Reader Questions:
You Don't Need 59 for This Surgery Combo
Question: May I report all three surgeries when the physician performs a torn anterior cruciate [...]
