amjordan
True Blue
I am reviewing a surgery for one of our providers that was denied. The codes billed out by the office are,
58552 and 38770-51
Now, in looking at the note, the lymphadenectomy was done laparoscopicly as well. Based on the Coders Desk Reference the 38770 is not a laparoscopic procedure. I have looked at the codes in the 38570-38589 range and this is what the surgeon did:
The left external, internal, and obturator lymph nodes were removed, as a single specimen will be labeled as left pelvic lymph node similarly on the right side. Then it describes the removal and then they desufflated the pressure to 7 to check for bleeding. . .
None of the nodes were biopsied, they were simply removed. This is not my strong area and none of these codes seem to be a good fit. What would you do?
Thanks,
58552 and 38770-51
Now, in looking at the note, the lymphadenectomy was done laparoscopicly as well. Based on the Coders Desk Reference the 38770 is not a laparoscopic procedure. I have looked at the codes in the 38570-38589 range and this is what the surgeon did:
The left external, internal, and obturator lymph nodes were removed, as a single specimen will be labeled as left pelvic lymph node similarly on the right side. Then it describes the removal and then they desufflated the pressure to 7 to check for bleeding. . .
None of the nodes were biopsied, they were simply removed. This is not my strong area and none of these codes seem to be a good fit. What would you do?
Thanks,