Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Replacement, reprogramming, or removal could help recover earned reimbursementVentricular shunt procedures can present coding challenges if you're not clear on how to find supporting details in the note.Key item: Be sure to watch for reprogramming and code these procedures differently.Know the Drainage RouteThe distal end of a ventricular shunt may drain the fluid to a distinct and different anatomical location like the atrium, auricle, peritoneum, pleura or others, so you need to identify the correct code for each. "The ventricular shunt procedure is when a physician places a shunt system to help divert the flow of cerebral spinal fluid from the central nervous system to another site within the body where it will be absorbed within the normal circulatory process," says Teresa Thomas, BBA, RHIT, CPC, practice manager II at St. John's Clinic (Neurosurgery) in Springfield, Missouri.Carefully review the operative note to look for where the shunt begins and where [...]