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dellasanta

Recent content by dellasanta

D
Wiki stent removal from thoracic aorta

How would you code removal of a stent from the thoracic aorta (it separated from the sheath during placement)? I can't find an appropriate FB code. Is there another way to code this? (portions of dictated note below) The ductal stent was dislodged from the sheath and was retained in the...
- dellasanta
- Thread
- Jun 11, 2020
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Cardiovascular Thoracic
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Wiki Multiple tissue expanders

Clarification please. The description of CPT 11960 is "insertion of tissue expander(s)". The (s) usually means single or multiple expanders would still only bill the code once. However, the MUEs for this code is 2 which implies 1 or 2 can be billed. Which is correct? If my physician is...
- dellasanta
- Thread
- Jun 5, 2018
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Plastic Surgery
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Wiki code for chemical excision mandibular lesion

Indication: an expansile lucent mass of the body of the mandible involving the majority of the mandibular teeth, was found to be a central giant cell granuloma s/p incisional biopsy this was coded as M27.1 Procedure: Using a 25 gauge needle, a total of 8cc of 10mg/ml of kenalog with...
- dellasanta
- Thread
- Feb 21, 2018
- Replies: 1
- Forum: ENT/Otolaryngology
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Wiki when does a perinatal condition (HIE) cease to be appropriate?

Per chapter 16 guidelines, P codes "may be used throughout the life of the patient if the condition is still present" or "for conditions that have been specified by the provider as having implications for future health care needs". My question is should P91.60 (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy...
- dellasanta
- Thread
- Sep 1, 2017
- Replies: 1
- Forum: ICD-10
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Wiki pulmonary valvotomy with dilator and open heart

The code for pulm valvotomy using dilators to open it is 33470, but this code is for closed heart. The open heart code, 33474 uses cutting to open the valve. How should I code an open heart valvotomy using dilators (no cutting)? Should I use an unlisted code or would this still be 33470...
- dellasanta
- Thread
- Aug 31, 2017
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Cardiovascular Thoracic
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Wiki ophthalmic US

Does 76512 have an E&M element included in it? I don't find anything in the code description that indicates that and yet my Medicaid payers continually deny this code when billed with an E&M. What am I missing?
- dellasanta
- Thread
- Aug 16, 2017
- Replies: 1
- Forum: Ophthalmology/Optometry
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Wiki Biopsy of cardiac tumor

What is the correct code to use for taking biopsies of a cardiac tumor when the planned procedure was a repair of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Once the chest was opened, an external cardiac mass was discovered and biopsied. I can't use 93505 because this was an open procedure...
- dellasanta
- Thread
- Jul 14, 2017
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Cardiovascular Thoracic
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Wiki Deep or superficial?

Correction to my previous post, the code should be 20245 not 20225. Typo, sorry
- dellasanta
- Post #4
- May 1, 2017
- Forum: Medical Coding General Discussion
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Wiki Deep or superficial?

My physician believes that 20225 can be used when the surgery requires elevation of muscle as in approaching the mandible through the skin or elevating muscle overlying the ramus or genial areas. Does this make a difference when coding deep (20225) vs superficial (20220)? I tend to think "no".
- dellasanta
- Post #3
- May 1, 2017
- Forum: Medical Coding General Discussion
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Wiki Deep or superficial?

When billing for biopsy of the mandible or maxilla, would the code for superficial bone biopsy be used since the mandible/maxilla is close to the body surface similar to the rib (such as code description for 20240 vs 20245 which is deep)? I think my physician is using the wrong code.
- dellasanta
- Thread
- Mar 29, 2017
- Replies: 4
- Forum: Medical Coding General Discussion
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Wiki Initial vs subsequent encounter

If a patient goes to the OR (via the ED) and has surgery, the diagnosis would indicate an initial encounter (7th character A). If 3 days later, the patient went back to the OR for a complication or additional procedure, should the 7th character of the diagnosis change to D for subsequent...
- dellasanta
- Thread
- Feb 10, 2017
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Diagnosis Coding
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Wiki Revision pulmonary artery band

Is this service billable and if so, what is the CPT? I can only find the placement of the bands (33620) and removal as part of other procedures, but nothing that clearly indicates a revision. Would it be appropriate to bill this as 33620-52 for reduced service? The patient was brought to...
- dellasanta
- Thread
- Feb 1, 2017
- Replies: 3
- Forum: Cardiovascular Thoracic
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Wiki ECMO decannulation - need help with modifier

a patient had a repair of atrial septal defect (33641) and later was put on ECMO. 10 days after the repair, we did decannulation and placement of a central line in the ECMO procedure room, not the OR. Is this billable and if so, what mod is appropriate? 58 or 78? Thanks for the help :confused:
- dellasanta
- Thread
- Jan 10, 2017
- Replies: 2
- Forum: Cardiovascular Thoracic

dellasanta