Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Published on Fri May 23, 2003 PDF

If you don't have hours to spend culling the Federal Register for the correct codes to use, we have your answer. Tack these two pages of must-have coding changes over your computer to avoid rejected claims.

In the March 28, 2003, Federal Register (Vol. 68, no. 60, pp. 15267-15312) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services unveiled new codes for procedures in ambulatory surgery centers. It also deleted some other codes and introduced some codes for comment. Here's the skinny:

Added codes:

15775 (Hair transplant punch grafts)
15776 (Hair transplant punch grafts)
15820 (Revision of lower eyelid)
15821 (Revision of lower eyelid)
15822 (Revision of upper eyelid)
15823 (Revision of upper eyelid)
15824 (Removal of forehead wrinkles)
15825 (Removal of neck wrinkles)
15826 (Removal of brow wrinkles)
15828 (Removal of face wrinkles)
15829 (Removal of skin wrinkles)
15831 (Excise excessive skin tissue)
15832 (Excise excessive skin tissue)
15833 (Excise excessive skin tissue)
15834 (Excise excessive skin tissue)
15835 (Excise excessive skin tissue)
15876 (Suction assisted lipectomy)
15877 (Suction assisted lipectomy)
15878 (Suction assisted lipectomy)
15879 (Suction assisted lipectomy)
19316 (Suspension of breast)
19324 (Enlarge breast)
19325 (Enlarge breast with implant)
19355 (Correct inverted nipple(s))
20692 (Apply bone fixation device)
20693 (Adjust bone fixation device)
21015 (Resection of facial tumor)
21029 (Contour of face bone lesion)
21046 (Excision benign tumor)
21047 (Excision benign tumor)
21121 (Reconstruction of chin)
21122 (Reconstruction of chin)
21123 (Reconstruction of chin)
21127 (Augmentation lower jaw bone)
21181 (Contour cranial bone lesion)
21295 (Reconst lwr jaw w/o fixation)
21296 (Reconst lwr jaw w/fixation)
21336 (Treat nasal septal fracture)
21345 (Treat nose/jaw fracture)
23031 (Drain shoulder burs)
24006 (Release elbow joint)
24305 (Arm tendon lengthening)
24341 (Repair arm tendon/muscle)
25337 (Reconstruct ulna/radioulnar)
25830 (Fusion radioulnar jnt/ulna)
26185 (Remove finger bone)
26546 (Repair nonunion han)
26608 (Treat metacarpal fracture)
27067 (Remove/graft hip bone lesion)
27257 (Treat hip dislocation)
27329 (Remove tumor thigh/knee)
27357 (Remove femur lesion/graft)
27358 (Remove femur lesion/fixation)
27496 (Decompression of thigh/knee)
27497 (Decompression of thigh/knee)
27498 (Decompression of thigh/knee)
27499 (Decompression of thigh/knee)
27594 (Amputation follow-up surgery)
27600 (Decompression of lower leg)
27601 (Decompression of lower leg)
27602 (Decompression of lower leg)
27647 (Extensive ankle/heel surgery)
27889 (Amputation of foot at ankle)
27892 (Decompression of leg)
27893 (Decompression of leg)
27894 (Decompression of leg)
28011 (Incision of toe tendons)
28022 (Exploration of foot joint)
28024 (Exploration of toe joint)
28052 (Biopsy of foot joint lining)
28126 (Partial removal of toe)
28153 (Partial removal of toe)
28160 (Partial removal of toe)
28234 (Incision of foot tendon)
28270 (Release of foot contracture)
28531 (Treat sesamoid bone fracture)
29800 (Jaw arthroscopy/surgery)
29848 (Wrist endoscopy/surgery)
29860 (Hip arthroscopy dx)
29861 (Hip arthroscopy/surgery)
29862 (Hip arthroscopy/surgery)
29863 (Hip arthroscopy/surgery)
29891 (Ankle arthroscopy/surgery)
29892 (Ankle arthroscopy/surgery)
29893 (Scope plantar fasciotomy)
30460 (Revision of nose)
30462 (Revision of nose)
30545 (Repair nasal defect)
30930 (Therapy fracture of nose)
31081 (Removal of frontal sinus)
31085 (Removal of frontal sinus)
31087 (Removal of frontal sinus)
31400 (Revision of larynx)
31420 (Removal of epiglottis)
33222 (Revise pocket pacemaker)
33223 (Revise pocket pacing-defib)
35188 (Repair blood vessel lesion)
35207 (Repair blood vessel lesion)
35875 (Removal of clot in graft)
35876 (Removal of clot in graft)
36260 (Insertion of infusion pump)
36488 (Insertion of catheter vein)
36490 (Insertion of catheter vein)
37607 (Ligation of a-v fistul)
37650 (Revision of major vein)
37790 (Penile venous occlusion)
40700 (Repair cleft lip/nasal)
40701 (Repair cleft lip/nasal)
40720 (Repair cleft lip/nasal)
40761 (Repair cleft lip/nasal)
42226 (Lengthening of palate)
42415 (Excise parotid gland/lesion)
42820 (Remove tonsils and adenoids)
42825 (Removal of tonsils)
42830 (Removal of adenoids)
42835 (Removal of adenoids)
42890 (Partial removal of pharynx)
42892 (Revision of pharyngeal walls)
42972 (Control nose/throat bleeding)
43205 (Esophagus endoscopy/ligation)
43244 (Upper GI endoscopy/ligation)
44376 (Small bowel endoscopy)
44377 (Small bowel endoscopy/biopsy)
44378 (Small bowel endoscopy)
45160 (Excision of rectal lesion)
45190 (Destruction rectal tumor)
46288 (Repair anal fistul)
46615 (Anoscopy)
46761 (Repair of anal sphincter)
46762 (Implant artificial sphincter)
46917 (Laser surgery anal lesions)
47511 (Insert bile duct drain)
47556 (Biliary endoscopy thru skin)
49422 (Remove perm cannula/catheter)
49495 (Rpr ing hernia baby reduc)
49496 (Rpr ing hernia baby blocked),
49500 (Rpr ing hernia init reduce)
49501 (Rpr ing hernia init blocked)
49507 (Rpr i/hern init block 5 yr)
49521 (Rerepair ing hernia blocked)
49553 (Rpr fem hernia init blocked)
49557 (Rerepair fem hernia blocked)
49561 (Rpr ventral hern init block)
49566 (Rerepair ventrl hern block)
49568 (Hernia repair w/mesh)
49572 (Rpr epigastric hern blocked)
49580 (Rpr umbil hern reduc <5 yr)
49582 (Rpr umbil hern block < 5 yr)
49587 (Rpr umbil hern block 5 yr)
49600 (Repair umbilical lesion)
51050 (Removal of bladder stone)
51065 (Remove ureter calculus)
51080 (Drainage of bladder abscess)
51520 (Removal of bladder lesion)
51715 (Endoscopic injection/implant)
52282 (Cystoscopy implant stent)
52327 (Cystoscopy inject material)
52355 (Cystouretero w/excise tumor)
52510 (Dilation prostatic urethr )
52647 (Laser surgery of prostate)
52648 (Laser surgery of prostate)
53080 (Drainage of urinary leakage)
53270 (Removal of urethra gland)
53850 (Prostatic microwave thermotx)
54000 (Slitting of prepuce)
54111 (Treat penis lesion graft)
54112 (Treat penis lesion graft)
54150 (Circumcision)
54304 (Revision of penis)
54308 (Reconstruction of urethr)
54312 (Reconstruction of urethr)
54316 (Reconstruction of urethr)
54318 (Reconstruction of urethr)
54322 (Reconstruction of urethra)
54324 (Reconstruction of urethra)
54326 (Reconstruction of urethra)
54328 (Revise penis/urethra)
54340 (Secondary urethral surgery)
54344 (Secondary urethral surgery)
54348 (Secondary urethral surgery)
54352 (Reconstruct urethra/penis)
54380 (Repair penis)
54400 (Insert semi-rigid prosthesis)
54401 (Insert self-contd prosthesis)
54405 (Insert multi-comp penis pros)
54406 (Remove multi-comp penis pros)
54408 (Repair multi-comp penis pros)
54410 (Remove/replace penis prosth)
54415 (Remove self-contd penis pros)
54416 (Remv/repl penis contain pros)
54522 (Orchiectomy partial)
55250 (Removal of sperm duct(s))
55550 (Laparo ligate spermatic vein)
55725 (Drainage of prostate abscess)
55859 (Percut/needle insert pros)
57289 (Repair bladder & vagina)
57291 (Construction of vagina)
57415 (Remove vaginal foreign body)
57556 (Remove cervix repair bowel)
58350 (Reopen fallopian tube)
58545 (Laparoscopic myomectomy)
59160 (D & C after delivery)
59320 (Revision of cervix)
59812 (Treatment of miscarriage)
59820 (Care of miscarriage)
59840-1 (Abortion)
59870 (Evacuate mole of uterus)
59871 (Remove cerclage suture)
62281 (Treat spinal cord lesion)
62287 (Percutaneous diskectomy)
62355 (Remove spinal canal catheter)
64553 (Implant neuroelectrodes)
64573 (Implant neuroelectrodes)
64577 (Implant neuroelectrodes)
64580 (Implant neuroelectrodes)
64585 (Revise/remove neuroelectrode)
64885 (Nerve graft head or neck)
64886 (Nerve graft head or neck)
65772 (Correction of astigmatism)
65775 (Correction of astigmatism)
66825 (Reposition intraocular lens)
67027 (Implant eye drug system)
67334 (Revise eye muscle w/suture)
67335 (Eye suture during surgery)
67900 (Repair brow defect)
68115 (Remove eyelid lining lesion)
68770 (Close tear system fistula)
69300 (Revise external ear)

Deleted codes:

15756 (Free muscle flap microvasc)
15757 (Free skin flap microvasc)
15758 (Free fascial flap microvasc)
15842 (Flap for face nerve palsy)
16030 (Treatment of burn(s))
16035 (Incision of burn scab initi)
19260 (Removal of chest wall lesion)
19364 (Breast reconstruction)
20660 (Apply remove fixation device)
20661 (Application of head brace)
20662 (Application of pelvis brace)
20663 (Application of thigh brace)
20665 (Removal of fixation device)
20955 (Fibula bone graft microvasc)
20962 (Other bone graft microvasc)
20969 (Bone/skin graft microvasc)
20970 (Bone/skin graft iliac crest)
20972 (Bone/skin graft metatarsal)
20973 (Bone/skin graft great toe)
21041 (Removal of jaw bone lesion)
21343 (Treatment of sinus fracture)
21360 (Treat cheek bone fracture)
21385 (Treat eye socket fracture)
21386 (Treat eye socket fracture)
21387 (Treat eye socket fracture)
21390 (Treat eye socket fracture)
21395 (Treat eye socket fracture)
21406 (Treat eye socket fracture)
21407 (Treat eye socket fracture)
21422 (Treat mouth roof fracture)
21470 (Treat lower jaw fracture)
21495 (Treat hyoid bone fracture)
21510 (Drainage of bone lesion)
21550 (Biopsy of neck/chest)
21620 (Partial removal of sternum)
21810 (Treatment of rib fracture(s))
21920 (Biopsy soft tissue of back)
22100 (Remove part of neck vertebra)
22101 (Remove part thorax vertebra)
22102 (Remove part lumbar vertebra)
22103 (Remove extra spine segment)
22325 (Treat spine fracture)
22326 (Treat neck spine fracture)
22327 (Treat thorax spine fracture)
22328 (Treat each add spine fx)
23065 (Biopsy shoulder tissues)
24065 (Biopsy arm/elbow soft tissue)
24150-1 (Extensive humerus surgery)
24152-3 (Extensive radius surgery)
26035 (Decompress fingers/hand)
26037 (Decompress fingers/hand)
26551 (Great toe-hand transfer)
26553 (Single transfer toe-hand)
26554 (Double transfer toe-hand)
27303 (Drainage of bone lesion)
27440 (Revision of knee joint)
27507 (Treatment of thigh fracture)
27511 (Treatment of thigh fracture)
27513 (Treatment of thigh fracture)
27524 (Treat kneecap fracture)
27535 (Treat knee fracture)
27613 (Biopsy lower leg soft tissue)
27715 (Revision of lower leg)
31584 (Treat larynx fracture)
31600 (Incision of windpipe)
31710 (Insertion of airway catheter)
31715 (Injection for bronchus x-ray)
31785 (Remove windpipe lesion)
31800 (Repair of windpipe injury)
32002 (Treatment of collapsed lung)
32005 (Treat lung lining chemically)
32020 (Insertion of chest tube)
34101 (Removal of artery clot)
38700 (Removal of lymph nodes neck)
38790 (Inject for lymphatic x-ray)
40805 (Removal foreign body mouth)
40806 (Incision of lip fol)
40820 (Treatment of mouth lesion)
41000 (Drainage of mouth lesion)
41105 (Biopsy of tongue)
41110 (Excision of tongue lesion)
41115 (Excision of tongue fol)
41805 (Removal foreign body gum)
41806 (Removal foreign body jawbone)
42104 (Excision lesion mouth roof)
42106 (Excision lesion mouth roof)
42160 (Treatment mouth roof lesion)
42225 (Reconstruct cleft palate)
42281 (Insertion palate prosthesis)
42335 (Removal of salivary stone)
44345-6 (Revision of colostomy)
49000 (Exploration of abdomen)
49400 (Air injection into abdomen)
49425 (Insert abdomen-venous drain)
50020 (Renal abscess open drain)
50040 (Drainage of kidney)
50520 (Close kidney-skin fistul)
50570 (Kidney endoscopy)
50572 (Kidney endoscopy)
50574 (Kidney endoscopy & biopsy)
50576 (Kidney endoscopy & treatment)
50578 (Renal endoscopy/radiotracer)
50580 (Kidney endoscopy & treatment)
50684 (Injection for ureter x-ray)
50690 (Injection for ureter x-ray)
51005 (Drainage of bladder)
51600 (Injection for bladder x-ray)
51605 (Preparation for bladder xray)
51610 (Injection for bladder x-ray)
51725 (Simple cystometrogram)
51865 (Repair of bladder wound)
51900 (Repair bladder/vagina lesion)
51920 (Close bladder-uterus fistula)
54125 (Removal of penis)
55600
55605 (Incise sperm duct pouch)
55650 (Remove sperm duct pouch)
56405 (I & D of vulva/perineum)
56605 (Biopsy of vulva/perineum)
57310
57311 (Repair urethrovaginal lesion)
57320 (Repair bladder-vagina lesion)
57800 (Dilation of cervical canal)
58551 (Laparoscopy remove myom)
60220 60225 (Partial removal of thyroid)
62256 (Remove brain cavity shunt)
62351 (Implant spinal canal cath)
62367, 62368 (Analyze spine infusion pump)
69424 (Remove ventilating tube)
69710 (Implant/replace hearing aid)