• If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ & read the forum rules. To view all forums, post or create a new thread, you must be an AAPC Member. If you are a member and have already registered for member area and forum access, you can log in by clicking here. If you've forgotten the password it can be reset on our sign in section by entering your registered Email Address or Username here. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below..

Wiki Help with laminectomy/incidental durotomy coding

Create Wiki Sort by votes
C

clwilliamson

New
Messages
7
Best answers
0
My provider was performing a b/l decompression laminectomy of L2 - L5 and had an incidental dural injury. Is the dural repair included with the laminectomy? Here is the note. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
4398
 
0
Hi! The repair of the dura would not be coded separately. In the NCCI Policy Manual, Chapter 8, section C.12, there is a good guideline to help with this scenario: If a dural (cerebrospinal fluid) leak occurs during a spinal procedure, repair of the dural leak is integral to the spinal procedure. CPT code 63707 or 63709 (Repair of dural/cerebrospinal fluid leak) shall not be reported separately for the repair.

Since the injury to the dura occurred during a spinal procedure (a laminectomy), I would not report the repair separately. I hope that helps :)

Kim
www.codingmastery.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top