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Wiki Barbotage
- Thread starter StuC2018
- Start date
nolanspade
Networker
Hi, that's a really old article, and I don't agree.
Even if the barbotage was of the shoulder joint, I do not believe it should be 20610. (Certainly not with the x-ray code recommended in that article.) It doesn't fit the definition of aspiration, arthrocentsesis or injection. If an injection of medication was also performed, I believe the barbotage work may be in addition to the steroid injection. See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572096/
Other sources point to 20551 - but that is defined as an injection into a tendon " to relieve pain, inflammation, and swelling from a diseased or damaged tendon." Not Calcium hydroxyapatite removal.
I believe the correct codes for the barbotage portion of the procedure are the unlisted for the body area treated. CPT says (very close to the beginning of their guidelines) that we cannot choose a CPT that merely resembles a procedure.
Updated information regarding these procedures"
The recommendation is to report the Barbotage procedure with an unlisted CPT code based on the anatomic area treated. You may choose to report 76942 for the US guidance separately or include this work in the unlisted code for the procedure and not create a separate fee.
The recommendation is to report the Barbotage procedure with an unlisted CPT code based on the anatomic area treated. You may choose to report 76942 for the US guidance separately or include this work in the unlisted code for the procedure and not create a separate fee.