Wiki Coding for renal transplantation

[mcornish]

We are a Urologist group who does a part of the renal transplant surgery involving the ureter to the bladder, while the primary group does their part of the renal transplant. The code that has been used by the Urologist group has been 50780 but according to AUA we should be billing the same code as the primary group 50360 with modifier 62. I need some help with the correct coding we should be using!!! Any advice would be great!!!

Thanks

 

[FTessaBartels]

Co-surgeon

The 62 modifier is used: "When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure ..." (See CPT 2009 Professional Edition, page 478, Appendix A Modifiers for rest of quote).

AUA is correct. 50780 is considered bundled with 50360. So it would be appropriate for BOTH surgeons to use the 50360 code with -62 modifier. Each surgeon dictates his/her own operative report, listing the other surgeon as co-surgeon.

You will need to coordinate with the other surgeon to ensure you are both using the same CPT and ICD9 codes.

Hope that helps.

F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC