tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2013 Issue 1

Reader Question: Avoid 62 with Unlisted Procedure

Question: How should we bill for a laparoscopic excision and closure of a colovesical fistula with two surgeons? Our surgeon performed the bladder side of the procedure, excising bladder tissue due to localized necrosis, followed by two-layer closure. Our surgeon then instilled saline to check for evidence of leaks. SuperCoder Subscriber Answer: Because there is not code for doing this procedure laparoscopically, you should report the service as 44238 (Unlisted laparoscopy procedure, intestine [except rectum]). Although you indicate that the procedure involved two surgeons, you should not try to use modifier 62 (Two surgeons), because most payers don’t...

To read the full article, sign in and subscribe to tci General Surgery Coding Alert.

Thank you for choosing Find-A-Code, please Sign In to remove ads.