Is mesh removal separately reported with hernia repair?

I recently ran across this article written in 2006. Would you agree with the article that mesh removal is not reported separately? My doctor is doing this surgery on a patient in the near future and I would have thought that I could bill the laparoscopic mesh removal with an unlisted code in addition to the hernia repair. Please see article below.

3. Removal + Repair = No Separate Payment

If the surgeon removes infected mesh placed during a previous hernia repair when making a recurrent hernia repair, you generally cannot code separately--or receive reimbursement--for the mesh removal.

Although you may be tempted to report an unlisted- procedure or foreign-body-removal code for mesh removal with recurrent repair, this is inappropriate.

"Keep in mind that the surgeon is already getting paid more for using the 'recurrent' code, the payer expects the recurrent repair to be more work than an initial repair due to scar tissue, adhesions and mesh issues."

Bottom line: Codes for recurrent repairs (for example, 49520, Repair recurrent inguinal hernia, any age; reducible) include as an integral component removal of mesh placed during a previous hernia repair.

removal

If the surgeon removes infected mesh placed during a previous hernia repair when making a recurrent hernia repair, you generally cannot code separately - or receive reimbursement- for the mesh removal.