Wiki CPT 20670

[mylahc]

New to orthopedics billing. CPT 20670 denied by Medicare due to global period of previously billed 14040. Are these really not allowed? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[amyjph]

This is not enough information to help. Sometimes we are asking the wrong question. It shouldn't be "are these really not allowed?"
If the 14040 was billed and the patient is in a global (90 days) then billing any other surgical procedures during that time would require a modifier.
However, what hardware or superficial implant was removed during the global of an adjacent tissue transfer? Was this a multi trauma patient?

There are more questions.
1. Was everything coded correctly in the first place? What were all the procedures?
2. Is the patient in a global? Did the provider take them back to the OR?
3. If everything was coded correctly, etc. etc. What modifier is required if you are trying to bill another minor or major surgical procedure during the global of another?

 

[Orthocoderpgu]

Agree with above. Without seeing documentation my guess would be 20670 is not related to 14040. I've never seen a tissue transfer that had to be held down by an implant. Amy is correct, your going to need a modifier but will need to do some research so you can use the correct one.