Wiki 00670 for laminectomies

[solocoder]

Hi. Can 00670/base 13 only be used for laminectomies that include instrumentation? OR, can it also be used when: the procedure includes multiple vertabral segments (minimum 3 segments) with no instrumentation? I'm a little unclear on that.

 

[jkyles]

Hi there, the defining word in the full descriptor is "extensive."

Anesthesia for extensive spine and spinal cord procedures (eg, spinal instrumentation or vascular procedures)

Eg means "for example." In a code descriptor it is not meant to provide a complete list of services that fit the descriptor but to give the reader a better idea of when the code should be used.

 

[solocoder]

Thank you. Hoping to hear if anyone is actually using 00670 with laminectomies and if they have certain criteria for "extensive".

 

[jodielonkoski]

"CPT® includes 00670 for spinal instrumentation or multiple levels. The manual does not include a concrete definition of “extensive,” but some experts say to consider any spinal surgery involving more than one level “extensive.” Also, check the operative notes for details such as “lumbar laminectomy at L4/5, L5/S1” or “lumbar laminectomy with instrumentation.” Both of these cases would point to 00670, which carries 13 RVUs instead of the 8 RVUs associated with 00630."

from this AAPC article https://www.aapc.com/codes/coding-n...e-shifting-from-00630-to-00670-166900-article

- we use it for multilevel and always for when instrumentation is used!