Wiki Thoracotomy with Bronch to follow

[Je0165]

One of my physicians performed a thoracotomy with a bronch to follow for "clean-up". This is something that he does regularly, and I want to ensure that he is getting full credit for the procedures that are performed. If the bronch does not preface the open procedure, how would it be coded? Should it be coded with an added modifier, such as 51?

 

[dvance4210]

I think it depends on what he did with the thoracotomy. If it’s a lobectomy, NCCI edits states that it is a component of 32480, but other thoracotomy codes allow a bronch. FYI, most VATS codes allow a bronch. At the STS workshop when this question was brought up the panel stated that it should be included and not unbundled with a 59 modifier. They left it up to physician/ coder discretion.

D. Vance, CPC, CCVTC