tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2006 Issue 1

Reader Questions: Avoid 63688 for Neurostimulator Traction

Question: A physician at a pain clinic implanted a spinal cord neurostimulator in a patient, and five days later the patient presented to the ED complaining that the device kept misfiring. The ED physician spoke with the surgeon who implanted it, and the surgeon suggested gentle traction of the stimulator wire without total removal. The ED doctor removed about 10 cm of wire. How should I report this?Delaware Subscriber Answer: You should bill the appropriate E/M code based on the documentation (99281-99285). CPT does have codes that describe similar procedures--such as 63688 (Revision or removal of implanted spinal...

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