Orthopedic Coding Alert
Reader Question :
Report 76040 for Bone Length Studies
Published on Sun Jun 01, 2003
Question: We performed a "long cassette whole leg study" on an 11-year-old patient. The report discusses comparisons on tibia, femur, femoral head and talar dome. Should we report any special code for a patient this young? Missouri Subscriber Answer: During leg length studies, the clinician usually x-rays hips, knees and ankle joints on one film and exposes a radiopaque ruler on the x-ray to evaluate one leg against the other. If this describes what your practice documented, you should report 76040 (Bone length studies [orthoroentgenogram, scanogram]). There are no specific codes to denote the patient's age in this series, so this code is appropriate.
Other Articles in this issue of
Orthopedic Coding Alert
- Fluoroscopy Claims Denied? Try Adding -26
Although the fluoroscopy codes 76000 and 76001 specifically refer to "physician time," most carriers still [...] - Benchmark Your Fluoroscopy Code Use
According to CMS'physician utilization data, orthopedic surgeons reported the fluoroscopy codes 76001 (Fluoroscopy, physician time [...] - Avoid IME Codes for Patient-Requested Evaluations
Orthopedists who evaluate workers'compensation patients should report the 99455-99456 series only if another party asks [...] - Medicare Fluoroscopy Claims Submitted by Orthopedic Surgeons in 2001
- You Be the Coder:
Is Pre-Op EPO Reimbursable?
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Reader Question :
Use 64470 Range for Medial Branch Blocks
Question: Which code should we report for a medial branch block? New Jersey Subscriber Answer: [...] - Reader Question :
Modifier -78 or -58?
Question: I surgically repaired a patient's intertrochanteric hip fracture (27244). The following week, the patient's [...] - Reader Question :
Report 76040 for Bone Length Studies
Question: We performed a "long cassette whole leg study" on an 11-year-old patient. The report [...] - Reader Question :
Medicare Bundles DVT Evaluations
Question: Five days after I performed a total hip replacement, I evaluated the patient in [...] - Reader Question :
See LMRP for Mortons Neuroma Injection
Question: The article in the May 2003 Orthopedic Coding Alert about differentiating between trigger point [...] - Reader Question :
Elbow Debridement Not Bundled Like Knee
Question: There is a new HCPCS code that allows orthopedists reimbursement for chondroplasty with meniscectomy. [...] - Reader Question :
Modifier -79 Signals Unrelated Procedures
Question: While our orthopedist was performing an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (29881), he diagnosed chondromalacia (717.7) [...] - Reader Question :
Rest Home Versus Home Services
Question: Our orthopedist often visits homebound elderly patients who live in a retirement village where [...]
View All
