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Urology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Don't Append 51 to Add-on Codes

Published on Mon Apr 13, 2009

Question: How would I code for an abdominal wall plasty and umbilicoplasty? Should I use unlisted codes? Are these procedures included or bundled within each other? California Subscriber Answer: First, you should report 15830 (Excision,excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue [includes lipectomy]; abdomen, infraumbilical panniculectomy) for the abdominoplasty. Then, report +15847 (Excision skin and subcutaneous tissue [includes lipectomy], abdomen [eg, abdominoplasty] [includes umbilical transposition and fascial plication]) for the umbilicoplasty. Keep in mind that +15847 is an add-on code.Therefore, you should not reduce the fee or add modifier 51 (Multiple procedures) to this code.
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