Advanced Search

Neurosurgery Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Verify 20693 or 20999 for Halo Vest Adjustment

Published on Wed Jun 02, 2010

Question: The neurosurgeon adjusted a misaligned halo vest under anesthesia. He later removed the painful halo vest and debrided pin sites for superficial pin site infection. How should we code these procedures?South Carolina SubscriberAnswer: You can report the halo adjustment with 20693 (Adjustment or revision of external fixation system requiring anesthesia [e.g., new pin{s} or wire{s} and/or new ring{s} or bar{s}]). If your surgeon doesn't believe 20693 is an accurate choice, submit 20999 (Unlisted procedure, musculoskeletal system, general) and compare to 20693 for RVU purposes (11.88 national RVUs for facility or non-facility).You can code the debridement separately with 11040 (Debridement; skin, partial thickness).
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