Neurosurgery Coding Alert

QuestionWhen coding 61510 and 61781, Medicare denied payment for 61781, stating 'Claim /service denied because the related or qualifying claim/service was not previously paid or identified on this claim.' When called, they stated that 61510 is not one of the codes that can be billed with 61781. Please advise me on the appropriate documentation to use for new code 61781 to get paid for this service. Maryland Subscriber AnswerThe coding is correct. A payer can choose to bundle services even if CPT® rules allow for separate reporting. For example, CMS has previously bundled microdissection with many procedures, despite CPT® rules allowing for separate reporting.Answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were reviewed by Gregory Przybylski, MD, director of neurosurgery at the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute, JFK Medical Center in Edison.