tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 1999 Issue 6

Coding Dilemma: Correct Billing for Reopening Laparotomy Can Increase Pay Up

Often, coders rely on the CPT index when billing for reopening a laparotomy. The index directs them to 49002 (reopening of recent laparotomy). But under certain circumstances, they can use 35840 (exploration for post-operative hemorrhage, thrombosis or infection; abdomen) for the procedure and receive a slightly higher reimbursement.Using 35840Cardiovascular Section Some coders maintain that if the laparotomy is being reopened because of bleeding or infection, the correct code should be 35840. Not only does it denote a higher level of specificity, they say, it also reimburses at a slightly higher rate. For example, a patient with a history...

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