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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Code 22551 Includes Discectomy, Osteophytectomy, And Bone Removal

Published on Mon Jun 04, 2012

Question: We are billing a Medicare patient for "ACDIF & reconstruction requiring C3-C7 anterior cervical discectomies, decompression, partial corpectectomy, and titanium anterior plating."  Is the following code selection appropriate? Please suggest.63081 (Vertebral corpectomy [vertebral body resection], partial or complete, anterior approach with decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve root[s]; cervical, single segment) x322554 (Arthrodesis, anterior interbody technique, including minimal discectomy to prepare interspace [other than for decompression]; cervical below C2)22585 (Arthrodesis, anterior interbody technique, including minimal discectomy to prepare interspace [other than for decompression]; each additional interspace [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) x322846 (Anterior instrumentation; 4 to 7 vertebral segments [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure])20931 (Allograft, structural, for spine surgery only (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)Diagnosis codes: 721.1 (Cervical spondylosis with myelopathy), 723.4 (Brachial neuritis or radiculitis nos), 722.4 (Degeneration of cervical intervertebral disc), 721.8 (Other allied disorders [...]
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