Orthopedic Coding Alert

Question: What percentage of the meniscus must the surgeon remove before we should bill the meniscectomy code instead of the chondroplasty code? Also, our orthopedic surgeon performed a medial meniscectomy with lateral and patellar chondroplasties on a Medicare patient. Which codes should we report? California Subscriber Answer: Let's address your first question. The orthopedic surgeon does not need to document any particular percentage of meniscus removal to report the meniscectomy codes. The meniscectomy is a completely different procedure from chondroplasty.  Op note hint: If the surgeon documents that he cleaned out a meniscal tear with an arthroscopic shaver, he performed a meniscectomy (29880-29881). If he documents that he cleaned out articular cartilage with the shaver, he instead probably performed chondroplasty. Even though the meniscus is considered -cartilage,- it is not the same type of cartilage as articular cartilage that is present at the end of bones. Anytime the physician removes [...]