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Wiki Lap Chole and Ventral Hernia
- Thread starter N70QW
- Start date
Erica1217
Guest
That's kind of a tough one - because there still is no code for a lap ventral hernia repair you can't actually check CCI.
However, the open ventral hernia code IS bundled into this; this leads me to believe that if there was a code for lap ventral, it would also be considered bundled.
In addition, the Correct Coding Manual says "When, in the course of an open abdominal procedure, a hernia repair is performed, a service is reported only if the hernia repair is medically necessary at a different incisional site."
Although this is regarding "open" codes, I believe the same concept would apply to the lap codes.
I probably wouldn't code it separately.
On the other hand, if the ventral hernia repair was difficult and added a significant amount of extra effort and/or time to the lap chole procedure, you could always try billing it with a modifier -22.
Erica
However, the open ventral hernia code IS bundled into this; this leads me to believe that if there was a code for lap ventral, it would also be considered bundled.
In addition, the Correct Coding Manual says "When, in the course of an open abdominal procedure, a hernia repair is performed, a service is reported only if the hernia repair is medically necessary at a different incisional site."
Although this is regarding "open" codes, I believe the same concept would apply to the lap codes.
I probably wouldn't code it separately.
On the other hand, if the ventral hernia repair was difficult and added a significant amount of extra effort and/or time to the lap chole procedure, you could always try billing it with a modifier -22.
Erica