tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2010 Issue 6

You Be the Coder: Bone Up on Separate Procedure Rules

Question: I'm having trouble getting paid for 44180 with any other procedure -- for example, with a laparoscopic appendectomy. Can I expect additional pay for this procedure, and if so, how can I bill for it?Texas SubscriberAnswer: Performing enterolysis during a laparoscopic appendectomy (44970, Laparoscopy, surgical, appendectomy) doesn't warrant a separate 44180 (Laparoscopy, surgical, enterolysis [freeing of intestinal adhesion] [separate procedure]).Here's why: CPT and Medicare's Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) bundle 44180 into many other procedures. That means you won't often be able to separately report the service.Obey 'separate procedure' designation: CPT Surgery Guidelines explain that certain...

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