Wiki Debridement of all three knee compartments

[Desperate Denise]

Good morning!!

I need help with coding for a BLUE SHIELD patient PLEASE.

The physician performed debridement/chondroplasties in the knee to address degenerative joint disease as well as osteochondral defects of the medial femoral condyle, lateral femoral condyle, patella and trochlea.

Would I code 29877 for the first and the GO829 for the second and third? Do I do two units of G0829 or do I itemized (sepearate line items).

Would really appreciate the help!!!

Thank you and have a great day!!!

Denise

 

[jdemar]

You can only bill 29877 one (1) time, no matter how many compartments are done.....once only.

 

[RebeccaWoodward*]

I agree...

The AAOS has an article about this under the heading "Chondroplasty".

http://www2.aaos.org/aaos/archives/bulletin/apr05/code.asp