tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2010 Issue 5

You Be the Coder:Check Your Appendectomy Add-On Savvy

Question: When the surgeon discovers appendicitis and performs an appendectomy during the primary procedure, such as an open cholecystectomy, I understand that we should  use +44955 instead of 44950. But what if the primary procedure is laparoscopic -- should we still use +44955 for an add-on appendectomy?Iowa SubscriberAnswer: No, you should not use +44955 (Appendectomy; when done for indicated purpose at time of other major procedure [not as separate procedure] [list separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) for a laparoscopic "add-on" appendectomy. If circumstances warrant billing a separate laparoscopic appendectomy, you should report 44970 (Laparoscopy, surgical...

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