Wiki hernia repair need help

[bench]

Hi Fellows,

I just wanted to ask your professional knowledge about this type of procedure. The surgeon performed an inquinal hernia repair on the right side. There are 2 hernias, one is direct and the other was indirect. They are of different location and the surgeon used two (2) meshes for the repair. Should this be coded as:

49505-rt
49505-rt-59

Please need your help.

Thanks everyone.

 

[bethh05]

There was an article from ACS coding Hotline that states Medicare will pay for only one hernia repair per incision. If the physician believes the hernia repair was unusually complex he can bill with modifier 22.