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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Medication Wash is Part of Procedure Code

Published on Sun Mar 21, 2010

Question: When our neurosurgeon performs a lumbar disc excision he always pours over the nerve root the same medication that a pain management specialist administers for a steroid injection. We submit 63030 for the main procedure. Is there a CPT code for the medication wash, and can we bill for it? New Jersey Subscriber Answer: No, you cannot code separately for the medication wash you describe. Explanation: National Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits bundle similar pain management procedures with 63030 (Laminotomy [hemilaminectomy], with decompression of nerve root[s], including partial facetectomy, foraminotomy and/or excision of herniated intervertebral disc, including open and endoscopicallyassisted approaches; 1 interspace, lumbar). For example, CCI prevents you from reporting 64483 (Injection,anesthetic agent and/or steroid, transforaminal epidural; lumbar or sacral, single level) or other injection procedures with 63030. It also does not allow you to break the pairing with a modifier. Therefore, payers who follow CCI edits will [...]
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