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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Hold Onto Your Subcutaneous Cranial Bone Graft Dollars With This 2-Part Strategy

Published on Fri May 22, 2009

If youre not keeping track of add-on codes, you could be setting your claim up for a denial. If your neurosurgeon placed the graft in a subcutaneous pocket (for safe keeping) during an earlier operative session, then thats your cue to report a code for the initial placement in addition to the final retrieval and placement of the graft. Dont leave well-deserved dollars on the table. Follow this two-part strategy, and youll optimize your cranial bone graft claim time and time again. Part 1: Check Your Documentation for Initial Placement Scenario: Your neurosurgeon documented that he performed a temporary placement of a cranial bone graft into a distant subcutaneous site for future retrieval. You should select +61316 (Incision and subcutaneous placement of cranial bone graft [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]). The surgeon may choose to call on +61316, for instance, following decompressive craniotomy, when immediate placement [...]
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