Wiki How do you code procedures 20610 and 20552

[jjones9022]

How do you code procedures 20610 and 20552 together with the appropriate modifier to prevent bundling?

 

[petroskek]

In my old office, we used the -59 modifier on the 20552 and linked the appropriate diagnoses.

 

[CodingKing]

Per NCCI Manual:

Injections of local anesthesia for musculoskeletal procedures (surgical or manipulative) are not separately reportable. For example, CPT codes 20526-20553 (therapeutic injection of carpal tunnel, tendon sheath, ligament, muscle trigger points) shall not be reported for the administration of local anesthesia to perform another procedure. The NCCI contains many edits based on this principle. If a procedure and a separate and distinct injection service unrelated to anesthesia for the former procedure are reported, the injection service may be reported with an NCCI-associated modifier if appropriate.