Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box below for the answer.
Question: Our surgeon performed a right L4-5 hemilaminotomy and diskectomy with an epidural steroid injection. After the decompression, a piece of Gelform was placed over the epidural space, 40 mg of Depo-Medrol was administered, and the wound was closed. Should we bill separately for the epidural steroid injection?

Kansas Subscriber

Answer: No, you cannot be reimbursed separately for the epidural injection. If reported separately, an epidural injection is coded 62311 (Injection, single [not via indwelling catheter], not including neurolytic substances, with or without contrast [for either localization or epidurography], of diagnostic or therapeutic substance[s] [including anesthetic, antispasmodic, opioid, steroid, other solution], epidural or subarachnoid; lumbar, sacral [caudal]), which replaced 62289 in CPT 2001. Although earlier editions of the national Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) bundled this code only to 62319 (Injection, including catheter placement, continuous infusion or intermittent bolus, not including neurolytic substances, with or without contrast [for either localization or epidurography], of diagnostic or therapeutic substance[s] [including anesthetic, antispasmodic, opioid, steroid, other solution], epidural or subarachnoid; lumbar, sacral [caudal]), the latest edition of CCI (version 8.0) bundles 62311 to many laminectomy and spinal procedures in the 62263-63746 range, including those for hemilaminotomy.