You Be the Coder:
Thermal Capsulorrhaphy Reviewed
Published on Mon May 01, 2000
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: Is there a new code specifically for thermal capsular shrinkage? The entire procedure was left shoulder arthroscopic thermal capsular shrinkage.
Sara Donlevy
Lehigh Valley Orthopedics
Answer: Catherine Brink, CMM, CPC, president of HealthCare Resource Management, Spring Lake, N.J., says, CPT 2000 does not have a code for the procedure. Coding guidelines from the American Medical Association recommend if there is no CPT code to best describe the procedure, an unlisted procedure code should be used. The unlisted procedure code for shoulder arthroscopy is 29909. Brink recommends contacting major payers if this is going to be a common procedure at your practice. Speak to a reimbursement manager and find out how the procedure should be submitted. This will ensure you receive accurate, timely payment and do not get involved in endless appeals, adds Brink.
Note: See Endoscopic Thermal Capsulorrhaphy: Correctly Code For New Unlisted Procedure on page 12 of the February 2000 Orthopedic Coding Alert.
