ahodge90
Networker
I was taught that a limited would be debridement of a single area like the cuff, labrum or bicep tendon, or a chondroplasty of the glenoid OR humeral head and that an extensive would be a chondroplasty of BOTH the humeral head and glenoid, or a chondroplasty of the glenoid or humeral head and debridement of the cuff, labrum or biceps. I know we cannot count the superior, posterior and anterior labrum as separate areas, it all counts as one, and that if a debridement is done of the cuff or labrum but then a repair happens then all I can code is the repair.
So, with all this said, I have case where the doc did a debridement of the labrum, and the cuff, and also did a bicep tenodesis with a SAD with acromioplasty. then proceded to do an open distal clavicle excision. I see that 29826 is bundled with my open distal clavicle excision, I am pretty sure that I should not code the 29826, but what I don't understand it the 29822 vs 29823. With what I mentioned earlier, am I supposed to code this as 29823 because multiple areas were debrided here?
I was hoping I could get clarification on 29822 and 29823, because I see that the 2021 CPT book updated their description of these codes. I saw that these codes now say that if there is 1-2 areas it falls as limited and 3 or more areas means it falls as extensive. I was curious if the way that I was taught on these codes are the way that I am supposed to be coding these or if this is just how to code these until the new 2021 codes come into effect.
So, with all this said, I have case where the doc did a debridement of the labrum, and the cuff, and also did a bicep tenodesis with a SAD with acromioplasty. then proceded to do an open distal clavicle excision. I see that 29826 is bundled with my open distal clavicle excision, I am pretty sure that I should not code the 29826, but what I don't understand it the 29822 vs 29823. With what I mentioned earlier, am I supposed to code this as 29823 because multiple areas were debrided here?
I was hoping I could get clarification on 29822 and 29823, because I see that the 2021 CPT book updated their description of these codes. I saw that these codes now say that if there is 1-2 areas it falls as limited and 3 or more areas means it falls as extensive. I was curious if the way that I was taught on these codes are the way that I am supposed to be coding these or if this is just how to code these until the new 2021 codes come into effect.