Otolaryngology Coding Alert
Rely on the CCI Explanation for 60500 Bundling Into 60240
Question: Can you help me explain to my physician why CPT® 60500 bundles into 60240? He is questioning it because the parathyroid exploration and excision was indicated for a clinical indication distinct from the indication related to thyroidectomy (parathyroid adenoma and hyperparathyroidism for 60500 and multinodular goiter for 60240).
South Dakota Subscriber
Answer: Share this information from the NCCI examples on the CMS website:
CPT® code 60240 (Thyroidectomy, total or complete) describes a total or complete thyroidectomy. CPT® code 60500 (Parathyroidectomy or exploration of parathyroid[s]) describes a parathyroidectomy or exploration of parathyroid(s). The exploration of parathyroid glands with or without parathyroidectomy (code 60500) is standard surgical practice when performing a complete thyroidectomy (code 60240). Therefore, CPT® code 60500 is bundled into CPT® code 60240.
However, keep in mind that if your surgeon performs a parathyroid autotransplantation (+60512, Parathyroid autotransplantation [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) in addition to the thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy, the +60512 can be reported as an add-on coded to the 60240.
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