Wiki Hemilaminotomy 63047 & 63048?

[jflynn]

I have never before billed any neurosurgery, so I'm a little confused. My operative report states: bilateral L4-5 hemilaminoty with foraminotomy, medial facetectomy and decompression of traversing nerve root for the diagnosis of lumbar spinal srtenosis.
I believe the correct code for this is the 63047 however I'm not sure if I should bill also the 63048 as it only states L4-5. Any help would be welcome

 

[dms979]

Welcome to Neurosurgery!
You would only bill 63047 since you are at one level L4-L5. If there was another level mentioned e.g. L5-S1 than you would bill the 63048