tci Outpatient Facility Coding Alert - 2013 Issue 12

Reader Question: There's No Need for 49659 When Same Mesh Covers Two Hernias

Question: I’m coding for a laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (right side) for a patient covered by Blue Cross. The surgeon repaired the hernia with mesh. He also documented the following: The dissection was carried out, reducing the indirect hernia and separating the round ligament from the iliac vessels. A small femoral hernia was also discovered and reduced. This was containing fatty tissue. A double mesh repair was performed using 2 separate polypropylene mesh patch prostheses. The first mesh was cut with a lateral slit inserted in position covering all the hernia orifices. The second was then placed overtop...

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