You Be the Coder:
Match Proper Fluoro Code to Spinal Tap
Published on Sun Nov 08, 2009
Question: Which code describes fluoroscopy for a spinal tap? Oregon Subscriber Answer: To report fluoroscopic guidance for a spinal tap, you should use 77003 (Fluoroscopic guidance and localization of needle or catheter tip for spine or paraspinous diagnostic or therapeutic injection procedures [epidural, transforaminal epidural, subarachnoid, or sacroiliac joint], including neurolytic agent destruction). If the radiologist also performs the spinal tap (also called a lumbar puncture or LP), report 62270 (Spinal puncture, lumbar, diagnostic). This procedure involves the physician placing a small hollow needle between two vertebrae in the lower spine below where the spinal cord ends. The physician takes a sample of cerebrospinal fluid and sends it to a lab for analysis. 2010 bonus tip: Note that the 77003 descriptor above is the revised version effective Jan. 1, 2010. It no longer includes "paravertebral facet joint, paravertebral facet joint nerve" in the list of injection procedures 77003 applies to. The [...]
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