Wiki Osteotomies

[Zirpoli9306]

Neurosurgeon performs Osteotomies from T-3 through L3. I coded 22212 for T3 and 22216 for each additional level, except for the level of L1 which I coded as 22214 and the rest of the Lumbar levels as 22216.

The insurance carrier is denying 22214 stating that the 1st lumbar level should be coded as 22216 instead. Are they right?

 

[rnrray2005]

The way that I read the codes yes....the 22216 says each additional vertrebral segment not each additional in the same section of the spine, but again this is my interpretation i'd like to see what other coders say