Hello,
I was coding AAPC Practicode questions (trying to remove my apprenticeship) when I came across a question that involved the use of a "microscope for microscopic dissection". The report called for codes 63051 with 63001-59. As stated previously, the report also specified the use of a microscope so I reported code 69990 with those codes and had gotten points taken off for doing so, being told that it was already bundled in those codes. I re-checked my books under both the "Posterior Extradural Laminotomy Or Laminectomy For Exploration/Decompression Of Neural Elements Or Excision Of Herniated Intervertebral Discs" heading to see if I missed a note and it states to code 69990 if a microscope is used. I then checked code 69990 to see if it had any notes and it doesn't exclude my primary code of 63051. When I noted this, I got an email stating to check the Medicare NCCI list of codes acceptable to code with 69990. I thought this was strange as this wasn't a Medicare case, nor have I ever been referred to NCCI. I guess all of this is to ask if I was wrong in coding 69990 even though the book states to, and how to tell if a code is bundled with microscope use?
Thanks,
Justin
I was coding AAPC Practicode questions (trying to remove my apprenticeship) when I came across a question that involved the use of a "microscope for microscopic dissection". The report called for codes 63051 with 63001-59. As stated previously, the report also specified the use of a microscope so I reported code 69990 with those codes and had gotten points taken off for doing so, being told that it was already bundled in those codes. I re-checked my books under both the "Posterior Extradural Laminotomy Or Laminectomy For Exploration/Decompression Of Neural Elements Or Excision Of Herniated Intervertebral Discs" heading to see if I missed a note and it states to code 69990 if a microscope is used. I then checked code 69990 to see if it had any notes and it doesn't exclude my primary code of 63051. When I noted this, I got an email stating to check the Medicare NCCI list of codes acceptable to code with 69990. I thought this was strange as this wasn't a Medicare case, nor have I ever been referred to NCCI. I guess all of this is to ask if I was wrong in coding 69990 even though the book states to, and how to tell if a code is bundled with microscope use?
Thanks,
Justin
