Wiki Lap cholecystectomy & hernia found

[vmounce]

Im not certain about this but if a Lap Cholecystectomy is done and during the procedure a hernia is found and doc does an incisional ventral hernia repair,is this billable? I though that incidental to is not billable. Need help to understand.

Can someone lead me in the right direction. I need to know ASAP. I really appreciate any information on this.

Thank you,
Vickie

 

[ASC CODER]

you can bill both with a modifier 59 on the incisional hernia make sure you have documentation as to why the hernia was a distinct and unrelated procedure.