Wiki 20670 vs 20680

[Michele1229]

Provider wants to bill 20670 x 1 unit and 20680 x 1 unit....

A 3mm incision was sharply extended through the skin with a knife, then blunt dissection with a hemostat was used to remove the pin. This was the pin located in the capitate and backing out. Once this was removed the position of the scaphoid pin was identified next by fluoro. Once identified, a 3 mm incision with a knife was made and blunt dissection was performed down to the wrist joint. Then the pin was retrieved with hemostat. The wounds were then cleaned with normal saline covered with 4x4's and coban

Thoughts?

 

[PLAIDMAN]

Provider wants to bill 20670 x 1 unit and 20680 x 1 unit....

A 3mm incision was sharply extended through the skin with a knife, then blunt dissection with a hemostat was used to remove the pin. This was the pin located in the capitate and backing out. Once this was removed the position of the scaphoid pin was identified next by fluoro. Once identified, a 3 mm incision with a knife was made and blunt dissection was performed down to the wrist joint. Then the pin was retrieved with hemostat. The wounds were then cleaned with normal saline covered with 4x4's and coban

Thoughts?

If they went in together...under same cpt.....they come out under 1 cpt. I would use the 20680 in this case.

Per CPT these codes are listed as "separate procedure" typically they would not be billed with any other cpt...same site,same session...ect..