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Otolaryngology Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS :

When Can We Report +61795?

Published on Wed Apr 15, 2009

Question: Weve been getting rejections lately for +61795. Under what circumstances may we use this code? New Mexico Subscriber Answer: You can report planning for stereotactic guidance (+61795, Stereotactic computer-assisted volumetric [navigational] procedure, intracranial, extracranial, or spinal [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) in addition to functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) codes 31255-31288. ENTs use stereotactic guidance to plan delicate surgery. Your physician uses a computer to calculate the exact point of incision and entry before taking the patient into the operating suite. Be prepared: You should be ready to show medical necessity for stereotaxis. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) states that the documentation must include these indications for stereotactic use: " disease abutting the skull base, orbit, optic nerve or carotid artery " cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea (349.81) or conditions where there is a skull-base defect " benign (212.0) and malignant sino-nasal neoplasms [...]
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