Patient has extensive spine procedure with our Orthopedic spine surgeon. Due to a complication a neurosurgeon was asked to come in and do an incidental durotomy. The neurosurgeon did only the durotomy piece and then scrubbed out. Our provider "continued with the rest of his case" Our provider wants the neurosurgeon to be the primary on this procedure specifically. Is that even possible? Can they be co-surgeons on the durotomy code and not the others? There is already a PA assisting on the other codes. Not sure how this works. Can I get some clarification please. Thank you.
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Wiki Multiple spinal surgeons
- Thread starter bir5248
- Start date
kimmcelderry@gmail.com
Networker
If I'm understanding your question correctly, Ch 8 of the NCCI manual states that incidental durotomy is not billable. "if a dural (cerebrospinal fluid) leak occurs during a spinal procedure, repair of the dural leak is integral to the spinal procedure. CPT code 63707 or 63709 (Repair of dural/cerebrospinal fluid leak) shall not be reported separately for the repair.
amyjph
True Blue
In this case what I have seen is the neurosurgeon is compensated "on the back end" internally but not through billing or by creating an assistant claim. Agree with @kimmcelderry@gmail.com the durotomy should not be billed.