Advanced Search

Neurosurgery Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Go Unlisted With Bone Fiducials

Published on Fri Aug 27, 2010

Question: My physicians have started doing bone fiducials before deep brain stimulator implantations, and I can't seem to find a suitable code for it. How should I report this? Wisconsin Subscriber Answer: If your neurosurgeon is just implanting the fiducials, you would report 21499 (Unlisted musculoskeletal procedure, head). For stereotactic DBS placement of electrodes, the procedure is bundled to the stereotactic part of the procedure and would not be separately reported. As an alternative, you could report 64999 (Unlisted procedure, nervous system).
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Neurosurgery Coding Alert

View All