Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Published on Fri Aug 24, 2007 PDF

Here are a few more changes that sources say may be coming next year:

- Mesh removal code 11008 could change its wording to make it easier to code next year. Currently, the wording states that the mesh must have a -necrotizing- infection, which means you can't use this code for regular infections.

Mesh removal is often -incredibly time consuming- and complicated because you have to remove the mesh in pieces, says M. Trayser Dunaway, a surgeon, speaker, coding educator and health care consultant in Camden, SC. The descriptor for 11008 has been -a source of confusion- for coders because -a necrotizing infection is not typical.-

- New and revised feeding tube placement codes could be very useful as well, says Dunaway. -We do all sorts of types of feeding tubes, and [the CPT panel] really needs to delineate the variety of the ones we do,- he notes.