Wiki Re: Discontinued procedures

[dvance4210]

Re: Discontinued procedures

We had a patient who was to undergo Aortic root replacement (Bentall) but after the mediastinotomy was performed she had a sebaceous cyst that was perforated and sent to cytology, this came back Gram-positive. Sternum had not been cut yet and the surgery was cancelled due to infection. She was continued on antibiotics and is to be rechecked in one month after sternum has healed and she is free from infection.

So do I bill out 33863-53 now, then 33863-58 when the patient undergoes the actual procedure?

Just want to make sure I'm thinking this through correctly.

Thanks for any input!

Dorinda V.
CPC

 

[TiffianyEdwards]

question

So I would agree with your coding except for when does the surgery technically start when the mediastinotomy is done or when the sternum is cut? If it's the first then I would bill as you said with the 53 mod but if it's when the sternum is cut then the procedure was not started and therefore wouldn't be a procedure cancelled or not carried out.