Orthopedic Coding Alert

Here's why anatomy is so important to correctly coding these claims.

When you're coding for your provider's performance of arthrocentesis, aspiration, or injection to a joint or bursa, there's good news and (potentially) bad news.

The good news is that you don't have to choose different codes for each type service, as CPT® bundles arthrocentesis, aspiration, and injection into the same codes. The bad news is that if you're not paying attention, you could choose the wrong code by misidentifying anatomy or joint/bursa size.

Help's here: Use this shot of knowledge from a pair of experts to settle on the surest code for each of your provider's joint and bursa arthrocentesis/aspiration/injection claims.

Know Trio of Definitions

First, you should make sure you've got your terminology right. For coding purposes, here are the definitions of arthrocentesis, aspiration, and injection:

Arthrocentesis: "A procedure using a needle or syringe to remove fluid from a joint," explains Peggy Stilley, CPC, CPC-I, CPMA, CPB, COGBC, revenue integrity auditor for Oklahoma Sports Orthopedics Institute in Norman.

Aspiration: "There are multiple definitions [of aspiration] within the area of medicine," says Yvonne Dillon, CPC, CEDC, director of emergency department services at Bill Dunbar and Associates, LLC in Indianapolis, Indiana. "One is the removal of fluid or cells from a body cavity via suction, such as with a trocar or needle and syringe. Another would pertain to the act of [the patient] inhaling a foreign body/fluid into the lungs or bronchi."

Injection: "The process of delivering a liquid substance into a body via needle and syringe, such as the administration of medications," Dillon continues.

You can check for these techniques on the operative note to make sure that your provider performed one of the three above services on a patient's joint/bursa.

Remember, Size Matters

CPT^® instructs coders to use 20600 (Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, small joint or bursa (eg, fingers, toes); without ultrasound guidance) or 20604 (... with ultrasound guidance, with permanent recording and reporting) for arthrocentesis/aspiration/injection of a small joint or bursa. The descriptors for both codes list fingers or toes as examples of small joints.

That's a little vague, but Dillon offers more of an explanation on 20600 and 20604. According to Dillon, you should consider the following as "small" joints/bursae, for coding purposes:

• Hand: Metacarpophalangeal, carpometacarpal, intracarpals, midcarpals.
• Foot: Metatarsophalangeal; tarsometatarsal; mid-tarsal; subtalar and talocalcaneonavicular.

Move Up 1 Level for Intermediate Joint/Bursa

When the orthopedist performs arthrocentesis/aspiration/injection on an intermediate joint/bursa, CPT® instructs coders to use 20605 (Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, intermediate joint or bursa (eg, temporomandibular, acromioclavicular, wrist, elbow or ankle, olecranon bursa); without ultrasound guidance) or 20606 (... with ultrasound guidance, with permanent recording and reporting).

The descriptors for these codes list temporomandibular, acromioclavicular, wrist, elbow, or ankle as possible intermediate joints. Experts had some advice on how to identify intermediate joints when one of the aforementioned terms isn't in the notes.

"There is an [intermediate] bursa in the foot - between the calcaneus and the Achilles tendon," offers Stilley.

Dillon adds that payers might also consider the following joints intermediate: sternoclavicular, subtalar, talocalcaneonavicular, and facet joints - though Dillon calls the facet joint designation "debatable."

Best bet: If you're unsure about the "size" of a joint or bursa, check with the provider to zero in on the correct measurement.

Break Out 20610, 20611 for Major Joints

CPT^® instructs coders to use 20610 (Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint or bursa (eg, shoulder, hip, knee, subacromial bursa); without ultrasound guidance) or 20611 (... with ultrasound guidance, with permanent recording and reporting) for arthrocentesis/aspiration/injection of a major joint or bursa. The CPT^® descriptors for these codes list shoulder, hip, knee, which is fairly comprehensive.

When the orthopedist performs arthrocentesis/aspiration/injection on any of these three areas, you'll probably opt for a major joint/bursa code. Again, however, there is room for debate. If you have any doubt as to the status of a potentially major joint/bursa, check with the provider to sort it out.

Prove Medical Necessity for Guidance

No matter which joint or bursa your orthopedist treats, you'll likely need to prove ultrasound (US) guidance was medically necessary before choosing 20604, 20606, or 20611. Medicare, and third-party payers that follow Medicare's lead, requires documentation to prove medical necessity for the US guidance, explains Stilley.

Remember: As the descriptors indicate, you cannot report 20604, 20606, or 20611 without including permanent recording and reporting documentation. Some payers might require further documentation for these encounters as well; check with your payer if there is any doubt as to the documentation you need to include to justify and verify US guidance.