Wiki laparoscopy converted to laparotomy

[cannspurr]

3-4-08 please help with procedure coding.
attempted laparoscopy converted to laparotomy with lysis of extensive abdominal/pelvic adhesions, rso, excision of left fallopian hydadid cyst of morgagni.
would you be able to code each procedure or are they all included with the rso??

 

[sjackson]

laparoscopy to laparotomy

Bill the Laparotomy as primary and the laparoscopy with a -53 and -51 on it. Be assured that the carrier will want to bundle the codes. Check to make sure that their is not a CCI edit on them 1st. (some carriers prefer to use -59 as apposed to -51.)

You could also add -22 to primary procedure and add money. Send op notes to justify.

 

[aguelfi]

My understanding is that you can only bill for the laparotomy, but you need to use V64.41 to describe the conversion.

 

[Charlotte Kay]

I agree with abenson...Its my understanding you lose the laparoscopy procedure and only bill the open procedure. But you have to make sure to use the V64.41-lap converted into open as one of your codes.