I am looking at an account where a provider in my practice was a co-surgeon on a case in which he stepped in when his specialty was needed. A GYN surgeon performed a total hysterectomy then our General Surgeon stepped in and performed a Appendectomy, omentectomy and excision of a left pelvic sidewall tumor. According to the documentation the tumor was in the infundibulopelvic ligament. He divided the infundibulopelvic ligament and then delivered the remnant of the infudibulopelvic ligament along with some of the tumor. Can you bill for that? Also....if the provider previously did a total hysterectomy can we bill for the tumor? is a suspensory ligament inclusive to the hysterectomy? Any insight would be great.
I am thinking we cannot bill for the appendectomy because according to the code book it states "Incidental appendectomy during intra-abdominal surgery does not usually warrant a separate identification. If necessary to report, add modifier 52) or should I use the 44955????? Also I am thinking you would not be able to bill for the "partial" removal of the tumor because he did not deliver the entire tumor?
Thanks.
I am thinking we cannot bill for the appendectomy because according to the code book it states "Incidental appendectomy during intra-abdominal surgery does not usually warrant a separate identification. If necessary to report, add modifier 52) or should I use the 44955????? Also I am thinking you would not be able to bill for the "partial" removal of the tumor because he did not deliver the entire tumor?