Wiki Bilateral knee arthroscopy

[LTibbetts]

Patient had different procedures done on each knee (one menisectomy and one plica shelf repair). Do I bill with the RT/LT modifiers or with -59 or is there another way to get them both paid? Not a medicare patient (pt has medicaid).

 

[LTibbetts]

Anyone????

 

[coderguy1939]

As 29875 bundles into 29881, I would use both 59 and LT or RT on 29875. I'm assuming by plica repair you mean the plica was removed.

 

[LTibbetts]

Yes, that is what I meant (plica excised). Thank you so much for your response!! So, just to be clear, I should code them as:

29881-LT
29875-RT-59

 

[smcbroom]

I would code as
29881 LT
29875 59 RT

the anatomical modifier should go after the 59 modifier.

 

[coderguy1939]

Yes, since this is not a Medicare patient, 59 followed by RT. For Medicare, the modifiers would be reversed.