Wiki Gallbladder Removal

GSCoder07

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Bossier City, LA
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My physician was trying to repair a duodenal ulcer. He opened the patient and found her gallbladder was adhesed to the stomach. As he was trying to remove the adhesions off the gallbladder, he damaged the gallbladder wall. At that point, he felt as if he needed to remove the gallbladder. Can he bill for the gallbladder removal? I thought I read somewhere that the physician cannot bill for instances like that but I can't seem to find where I read that!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
 
jberry, CPC

No you cannot bill for the removal of the gallbladder. There was no medical indication as to why the gallbladder was removed.
 
I think I found an ICD-9 code which might prove medical necessity: Complications - surgical procedures - accidental puncture or laceration 998.2. Please let us all know if it works. Thanks.
 
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