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Thoracotomy and anterior exposure to the spine

D

darlene0208

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12
Location
Greeley, CO
My physician assisted another surgeon and did a thoracoabdominal exposure for anterior spine surgery. Any suggestions on how to code that?
Thanks
Darlene:confused:
 
Take a look at code range 22558. Also did he assist or was he a co-surgeon.

We do call the other surgeons office to make sure we are on the same page when coding and for the Diagnosis. You may have to use mod 62 also. It all just depends on the documentation.

Hope this helps some!
 
Anterior approach = co-surgeon

This is the classic defnition of co-surgeons. Each surgeon is performing a distinct part of the entire procedure. Your surgeon is opening/closing. The other surgeon is performing the arthrodesis

Check with the other surgeon's office to ensure you are both using the exact same code and both using the -62 modifier. You will NOT code the instrumentation - only the orthopedic (or neuro) surgeon will code that.

Hope that helps.

F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC
 
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