Wiki Extensive Debridement

[heatherj_k@yahoo.com]

Hopefully someone can help, the physician states in op note "scope was placed in a subacromial space and a through bursectomy was carried out for complete inspection of the bursal side of the rotator cuff. The RTC was irreparable". The Dr billed a 29828 as a tenodesis was performed and a 29823 for the bursectomy and the tuberosity. My question is can an extensive debridement be billed for the bursectomy even though he states he did it for visualization ? I know the rule is you cannot bill for visualization, however surgery was not performed on the RTC. Thank you.

 

[Orthocoderpgu]

How does the tuberosity fit in? If the patient has impingement or subacromial bursitis, then you have pathology to bill on and it could be counted towards debridement. But if it was done for visualization only, then it can't be counted towards debridement.