Orthopedic Coding Alert
Steroid Injection
Rhode Island Subscriber
Answer: For the epidural portion of the procedure, use codes 64483 (injection, anesthetic agent and/or steroid, transforaminal epidural; lumbar or sacral, single level) and 76005-26 (fluoroscopic guidance and localization of needle or catheter tip for spine or paraspinous diagnostic or therapeutic injection procedures including neurolytic agent destruction, -professional component).
For the facet joint aspiration, you would use the same aspiration codes as for any joint in the body, 20600-20610. Because a spinal vertebrae is an intermediate joint, use code 20605 (arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection).
Orthopedic Coding Alert
- Avoid Fraud:
Stay Clear of Coding Pitfalls for Short-term Pain Pumps
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Two Injections
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ACL and Meniscectomy
Question: How should I code the following procedure?
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TKR During Arthroscopy Global
Question: A patient who had an arthroscopy on his left knee decided less than 90 [...] - Reader Question:
Steroid Injection
Question: How do I code for a fluoroscopically guided, contrast-controlled right L4 transforaminal epidural steroid [...] - Reader Question:
Long Arm Splint
Question: How should we bill when the patient presents to us after going to an [...] - Reader Question:
Ankle Fusion
Question: What is the most accurate way of coding an arthroscopic ankle fusion? Should I [...] - Reader Question:
Synovectomy
Question: Is it ever appropriate to bill for a 29875 with 29877 and 29874 ? [...] - Reader Question:
Intraoperative X-rays
Question: How do I bill for intraoperative x-rays?
New Jersey Subscriber
Answer: Intraoperative x-rays are those [...] - Reader Question:
Radiographs
Question: What are the rules and guidelines for billing for radiographic interpretation (x-rays)? We have [...] - Reader Question:
Multiple Procedures
Question: One of our surgeons frequently performs the following multiple arthroscopic procedures on shoulders, for [...]
