Wiki help with meniscectomy codes

[tmgexp1@yahoo.com]

if a doc does a medial and lateral meniscectomy and a partial synovectomy of the medial meniscus and a synovectomy with lysis of adhesions in the suprapatellar pouch is this considered three different compartments? Can I code 29880LT, 29875-59, LT and 29884-59, LT? The partial synovectomy was done in the medial meniscus and the lysis of adhesions was done in the suprapatellar pouch. Fellow co-workers think that we should code for the synovectomy OR the lysis of adhesions, but not both. Any thoughts?

 

[Christifal04]

You should not bill 29875 with 29880 since the synovectomy was done in the medial meniscus. It would be inclusive to the menisectomies. As for 29884 this can be billed with the 59 modifer since it is in a separate compartment.