Wiki Mesh Implantation for Paraesophageal Hernia Repair

[sjmccarl52]

Does anyone know if mesh implantation for a paraesophageal hernia repair is billable. Is it okay to use 49568 or is that specifically for incisional or ventral hernia repair. If it is billable, what is the code? By the way, this is a laparoscopic repair.

Thanks!

 

[jaimewicklund]

49568 is only allowed to be used with cpts codes 49560-49566. You need to first find out what type of mesh it is. If it is a biomesh then we use 15430-15431 for xenogeneic and 15300-15321, 15330-15336 for allograft. If it is prosthetic, then we include the work value in unlisted code we have set up for it. (since a lap PEH repair is 39599 for 2009) FYI-CPT did create a code for a lap PEH repair for 2010...(YAHOOOO!!!!!!!)

Hope this helps!!

Jaime